ICE forced to arrest convicted drug dealer on the street due to noncompliance with immigration detainer

PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Anderson Nunez-Hernandez, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, as he was exiting the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Complex, Feb. 21. Nunez-Hernadez is a criminal alien with a prior conviction for possession with intent to distribute for which he served a 23-month sentence. ICE was forced to apprehend Nunez-Hernandez as he exited the facility, in public, as the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Department refused to honor the immigration detainer ICE placed on him.

"Failing to honor immigration detainers compromises public safety and squanders taxpayer funds. It forces ICE to divert substantial resources to locate and apprehend criminal aliens in unpredictable, high-risk public areas," said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Philadelphia acting Field Office Director Brian McShane. "Instead of facilitating the safe transfer of criminal aliens from local to federal law enforcement within the secure confines of a facility, the Philadelphia Sheriff's Office releases these individuals onto the streets without coordinating with federal officials. Congress has authorized ICE to issue arrest warrants, and copies of these warrants are provided to the facility when ICE lodges a detainer. In this case, the failure to honor the detainer is even more mind boggling, as an ICE officer was involved in the initial investigation putting this individual behind bars for this drug offense in the first place. We urge officials in Philadelphia to prioritize public safety over politics and collaborate with ICE to protect the public and support our national security objectives."

The U.S. Border Patrol arrested Nunez-Hernandez for entering the United States without admission by an immigration official near McAllen, Texas, Oct. 30, 2021. He was issued a notice to appear before an immigration judge, paroled from ICE custody and scheduled to report for immigration removal proceedings in Philadelphia on Dec. 1, 2021.

Nunez-Hernandez was investigated by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation, which includes an ICE officer, after an extensive narcotics investigation ultimately led to his arrest. A large amount of Fentanyl was seized while executing a search warrant.

Nunez-Hernandez was convicted in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County on Feb. 21 for the offense of possession with Intent to distribute a controlled substance.

Members of the public with information can report crimes or suspicious activity by dialing the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

Learn more about ICE Philadelphia’s mission to increase public safety in our Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia communities on X: @EROPhiladelphia