46 foreign nationals arrested in NJ during ICE 5-day enforcement surge
NEWARK, N.J. – During a five-day targeted enforcement surge in New Jersey, officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested 46 individuals who are enforcement priorities, of which 20 had been previously removed from the United States.
The arrests were made from Oct. 19 to 23 throughout New Jersey with multiple arrests in some cities, including Plainfield, Jersey City, Newark, Trenton, Palisades Park, New Brunswick, North Bergen, Union City and Fairview.
Of the 46 taken into custody by ERO, 23 met the agency’s highest priority level due to felony convictions or participation in a criminal street gang. An additional 23 arrestees also met the ICE enforcement priorities for arrests due to serious or multiple misdemeanor convictions.
Many of the criminals taken into custody had prior convictions for serious or violent offenses including: child sexual assault, child abuse, aggravated assault, battery, DUI, weapons and significant drug possession or distribution convictions.
"The results of this targeted enforcement operation underscore ICE's ongoing commitment to public safety and the Department of Homeland Security enforcement priorities,” said John Tsoukaris, field office director of ERO Newark. "When we focus on the arrest and removal of convicted criminals, we contribute immediately to making our communities safer. Because of the tireless efforts and teamwork of ICE officers – along with our state and local law enforcement partners – there are 46 fewer criminals in our neighborhoods."
The arrested individuals came from Canada, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Mexico, Panama, St. Lucia and Turkey.
All 46 were arrested administratively for being in violation of immigration law, and all are being held in ICE custody pending immigration removal proceedings or removal from the United States. The 20 aliens that had been previously removed from the United States have been presented to the Newark AUSA’s office for criminal prosecution.
Some of those arrested during this operation include:
- A Dominican Republic national who was convicted and sent to jail for 10 years after manufacturing and distributing a controlled dangerous substance on school property. He was also convicted of a string of crimes, including receiving stolen property, cocaine possession, and simple assault. He was previously deported to his home country and was rearrested in New Jersey during the enforcement action.
- A Guatemalan national who was previously deported after he was convicted of aggravated assault and strong arming another person with a weapon.
- An El Salvadoran national who was convicted for transporting and selling narcotics multiple times. He was deported back to his home country and then arrested in New Jersey again.
- An El Salvadoran who was deported twice before and was recently convicted of a weapon possession charge.
In fiscal year 2014, ICE conducted 315,943 removals nationwide. Eighty-five percent of individuals removed from the interior of the United States had previously been convicted of a criminal offense.
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