Criminal aliens violate release conditions, reoffend after ICE is forced to reduce Adelanto

WASHINGTON – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the release of dozens of criminal aliens from the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in Adelanto, California, in October due to a Central District of California judicial order. Some of those detainees have violated the terms of their release and have already been rearrested by local law enforcement.

ICE’s Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program is a flight-mitigation tool that uses technology and case management to increase aliens’ compliance with release conditions while they are on the non-detained docket; however, it was never meant to be a substitute for detention. Multiple factors must be taken into account when making custody determinations and the recent court order forcing ICE to release detainees prior to concluding all such determinations may have provided an opportunity for aliens to abscond.

As part of the detainee releases from Adelanto, ICE required aliens to wear GPS bracelets to be monitored. In some instances, aliens tampered with monitoring devices. Tampering with an electronic monitoring device is a serious offense and may result in criminal charges. There are many situations, such as attempting to remove or rendering the electronic monitoring equipment inoperable, where an alien may be suspended from the ATD program and detained.

Prior to the October population reduction at Adelanto, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Los Angeles assessed and disclosed the criminal histories of those scheduled for release so the court would be aware of potential public safety threats being released into the community. Those recently rearrested include:

1. On Oct. 26, a 50-year-old Indian national arrested by the Ventura Police Department for an outstanding warrant of felony lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under the age of 14;
2. On Nov. 13, a 43-year-old Mexican national arrested by the Glendora Police Department for unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia;
3. On Nov. 6, a 48-year-old Mexican national arrested by the El Monte Police Department for battery, driving under the influence (DUI) and violation of a restraining order;
4. On Nov. 3, a 56-year-old Mexican national arrested by the Newport Beach Police Department for disorderly conduct under the influence of drugs and contempt of court;
5. On Oct. 28, a 34-year-old Mexican national arrested by the El Segundo Police Department for unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, carrying loaded firearm, burglary and grand theft; and
6. On Oct. 26, a 31-year-old Guatemalan national arrested by the Placentia Police Department for shoplifting.

“We have other individuals who have relocated out of state and failed to report, as required, to their new ICE office; individuals who have appeared to tamper with and/or remove their ATD monitoring devices; and others who cannot be located using the phone numbers and addresses they provided our officers. These absconders show a complete lack of regard for the legal system that authorized their release, and our immigration laws and policies,” Pham said.

ICE has taken proactive measures to tailor conditions across its detention network to maintain safe and secure environments for detainees and staff since the onset of the pandemic, while adhering to guidelines for the prevention and control of infectious and communicable diseases from the CDC. This includes reducing the overall detained population, providing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to all staff and detainees, suspending social visitation, and maximizing social distancing practices with staggered meals and recreation times. The agency’s full response to COVID-19 can be viewed on the ICE.gov website; ICE’s ERO COVID-19 Pandemic Response Requirements (PRR) is also available online.