ATLANTA (AP) -- Authorities say they have arrested more than 100
gang members and associates across Georgia, including seven on
charges of illegally re-entering the country after deportation.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency says the
operation dubbed "Community Shield" ended Saturday after federal,
state and local authorities nabbed 122 gang members and five others
linked to them in metro Atlanta, Dalton, Savannah and Albany.
Nineteen were charged with state crimes or had warrants pending.
ICE said Tuesday that the Hondurans, Mexicans, Salvadorans and
Guatemalans belonged to gangs such as Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13);
Norteno; West Side Locos; and Vatos Locos. The arrests were part of
a national effort in which 8,900 members of more than 700 gangs
have been arrested since 2005.