THE United States' Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation (ICE) last week netted 80 suspected criminals in coordinated raids targeting international gangs in the state of Massachusetts, 55 of whom could be deported.

Those arrested came from Cambodia, Vietnam and numerous Caribbean and Latin American countries, The Boston Globe reported.

The sweep included catching members of the Tiny Rascal Gang, most of whom have Southeast Asian roots.

Police in the city of Lowell, which is home to one of the world's largest communities of overseas Cambodian, just last month dealt a significant blow to the Tiny Rascal Gang last month, arresting 10 members on gun and drug charges.

Community activists have protested the ICE crackdown, and have characterised it as  excessively heavy-handed. The Boston Globe quoted a social worker with the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association saying the raids had spread "major fear throughout the community".