ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL
10/20/2017

ICE ERO Newark arrests 36 individuals in Middlesex County, NJ enforcement surge

https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-ero-newark-arrests-36-individuals-middlesex-county-nj-enforcement-surge

NEWARK, N.J. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Newark Field Office arrested 36 individuals during a five-day operation that concluded Friday, as part of the agency’s ongoing public safety efforts. The operation targeted criminal aliens who were previously incarcerated at the Middlesex County Jail (MCJ), and who were subsequently released to the community by MCJ, without honoring the ICE detainer or advising ICE of their release. The operation also targeted other criminal aliens residing inMiddlesex County.

“The continued results of our Fugitive Operations officers underscore ICE’s ongoing and steady commitment to public safety,” said John Tsoukaris, field office director of ERO Newark. “Counties likeMiddlesex, that have policies specifically tailored to protect criminal aliens and in essence assist criminals in undermining federal law, not only create a dangerous environment in the community but also place an undue burden on local law enforcement. ICE will continue to execute its mission in such communities.”
 Acting ICE Director Thomas Homan recently affirmed the agency’s commitment to dedicating additional resources to jurisdictions where detainers are not honored.

The individuals arrested as part of the operation were nationals of Anguilla, Belize, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Kenya, Mexico, Paraguay, Philippines, Trinidad and Turkey.

These individuals range from 19 to 62 years old and all were previously arrested or convicted of a variety of offenses. Some of the arrests and convictions included sexual assault of a minor, child abuse, criminal restraint of a minor, domestic violence, possession of narcotics, distribution of narcotics, robbery, receiving stolen property, theft, aggravated assault, hindering apprehension, resisting officer, DUI, unsworn falsification, possession of a weapon, burglary, prostitution and illegal reentry into the U.S.

Among those arrested during this operation include:

• A Philippines citizen arrested for sexual assault of a minor.
• A Turkish citizen arrested for burglary, possession of narcotics & resisting arrest.
• A Mexican citizen arrested for DUI & contempt that had a prior conviction for DUI.
• An El Salvadorian citizen arrested for distribution of narcotics & resisting arrest.
• An Indian citizen arrested for DUI that had a prior conviction for DUI.
• A Trinidadian citizen arrested for hindering apprehension & unsworn falsification.
• A Dominican citizen arrested for possession of handguns & receiving stolen property.
• A Dominican citizen arrested for burglary that had prior convictions for possession of narcotics & theft.
• A Ghanaian citizen arrested for contempt of court.
• A Paraguayan citizen convicted of child abuse.
• A Mexican citizen convicted of criminal restraint of a minor.
• A Mexican citizen convicted of endangering-abuse/neglect of a child.
• A Kenyan citizen convicted of possession of heroin.
• A Mexican citizen convicted of aggravated assault.
• An Anguillan citizen convicted of distribution & possession of heroin.

Those arrested will remain in ICE custody pending removal or immigration proceedings.

ICE is focused on removing public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members, as well as individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws, including those who illegally re-entered the country after being removed, and immigration fugitives ordered removed by federal immigration judges.

Since January, ICE arrests comprise over 70 percent convicted criminals. Of the remaining individuals not convicted of a crime, approximately 70 percent have either been charged with a crime, are immigration fugitives, or have been removed from the United States and illegally re-entered, reflecting the agency’s continued prioritization of its limited enforcement resources on aliens who pose threats to national security, public safety and border security.