ICE Enforcement Surge into New Jersey Sanctuary Nabs 36 aliens

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Newark Field Office arrested 36 criminal aliens in Middlesex County, NJ, a sanctuary jurisdiction, during a five-day operation that ended on Friday.

“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 like Middlesex, 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.”

The announcement by ICE comes on the heels of another successful operation in New York that put 5 criminal aliens into custody last week and another nationwide effort that brought in almost 500 aliens.

Acting ICE Director Thomas Homan recently stated that the agency is committed to dedicating additional resources to jurisdictions where detainers are not honored, also known as sanctuary cities/areas/states.

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.

70 percent of ICE arrests in 2017 were of 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.