Almost 300 undocumented convicted criminals were arrested in six Midwestern states during a month long initiative conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

According to KSDK, the enforcement surge began on May 18 and ended on June 18. As a result, 280 convicted criminals were arrested in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Kansas and Missouri. The 272 men and eight women arrestees migrated to the U.S. from 22 different countries.

In Wisconsin, out of the 34 males taken into custody by ICE officers during the initiative, 33 were Mexican nationals, with one Ecuadorian.

All of the people arrested have been convicted of crimes that warrant deportation. Their convictions include: aggravated robbery, armed robbery, drug possession, burglary, aggravated drunken driving, illegal possessing a weapon by a felon, battery, hit-and-run, and drug trafficking.

The initiative marked the latest effort by ICE to prioritize the arrest and removal of convicted criminal who lack legal status.

"Our dedicated officers strive to make our communities safer by arresting convicted criminal aliens and removing them from the United States," said Ricardo Wong, field officer director for ERO Chicago, reported Fox 6 Now. "By focusing our resources on the most egregious offenders, we ensure the very best use of our resources while immediately improving public safety."

A previously deported 31-year-old Mexican national with a prior burglary conviction was one of the men arrested in Wisconsin. He was first deported from the U.S in 2012; however, he illegally re-entered the country. He was then swept up by officials in Madison on June 11 and placed in ICE custody pending deportation.

A 28-year-old Mexican national was arrested May 21 in Milwaukee. He had multiple prior convictions for illegal possession of a weapon, cocaine and stolen property, along with larceny. Although he was deported in 2009, he illegally re-entered the country.