This month, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Newark Field Office arrested 82 “enforcement targets” – most of whom were criminal illegals previously deported — during an operation December 5-9.
All of the targets in the operation met the highest immigration enforcement priorities as established in Department of Homeland Security Secretary (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson’s 2014 memorandum.
“The results of this targeted enforcement operation underscore ICE’s ongoing commitment to public safety,” said John Tsoukaris, field office director of ERO Newark. “As part of this operation, we specifically focused on the arrest of individuals who are in violation priority one of DHS Civil Immigration Enforcement Priorities. Because of the tireless efforts and teamwork of ERO officers and our law enforcement partners, there are 82 fewer criminals in our neighborhoods,” he added.
The surge in aressts comes on the heels of House and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) having repeatedly demanded from ICE and the DHS Secretary information on numerous previously deported criminal aliens who returned to commit more crimes, including murder and rape, and why they’d not been caught, as Homeland Security Today has reported.
In fiscal year 2015, ICE said it conducted 235,413 removals nationwide, 91 percent of whom were deported who’d also previously been convicted of a criminal offense.
ICE said it “is focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that targets serious criminal aliens who present the greatest risk to the security of our communities, such as those charged with or convicted of homicide, rape, robbery, kidnapping, major drug offenses and threats to national security.”
“CBP is proud to have participated with ICE, the US Marshal’s Service, FBI, New Jersey State Parole and all other law enforcement partners to help apprehend these criminals posing a threat to the United States,” said Robert E. Perez, Director, Field Operations New York.
“We are proud that our parole officers help ensure the public safety in continuing cooperation with other state and federal agencies. We work every day to maintain these long-standing and productive partnerships and we see the results in successful operations like this one.” said James T. Plousis, chairman of the NJ State Parole Board.
The individuals arrested throughout New Jersey were nationals of Brazil, Colombia, China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, England, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Jamaica, Kenya, Mexico, Peru, Philippines and Ukraine.
The individuals range from age 18 to 66 and all were previously convicted of a variety of offenses. Some of the convictions included attempted murder, robbery, criminal sexual contact of a child, endangering the welfare of a child, child abuse, aggravated assault, distribution of narcotics, larceny, DUI, possession of a weapon and domestic violence.
Among those arrested during this operation include:
•A Kenyan citizen convicted of criminal sexual contact against a child and endangering the welfare of a child.
•An Egyptian citizen convicted of aggravated criminal sexual contact against a child and endangering the welfare of a child.
•An Ecuadorian citizen with an Interpol warrant for attempted murder.
•A Dominican citizen convicted of aggravated criminal sexual contact against a child and endangering the welfare of a child.
•A Guyanese citizen convicted of aggravated assault with a weapon.
•A Cuban citizen convicted of robbery, possession of narcotics, and distribution of narcotics.
•A Jamaican citizen convicted of terroristic threats, stalking, possession of a weapon, distribution of narcotics and resisting arrest.
