The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency says a number of Caribbean nationals have been arrested among 91 immigrants during a five-day immigration sweep in New Jersey. ICE said the operation targeted “at-large criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants and other immigration violators.”
It said the operation was supported by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) New Jersey Field Office.
The Caribbean nationals arrested were from Anguilla (1), Cuba (3), Dominican Republic (14), Guyana (2), Haiti (3), Jamaica (3), St. Lucia (1), and Trinidad and Tobago (3).
Others were nationals of: Bangladesh (1), Cameroon (1), Colombia (4), Ecuador (4), Egypt (1), El Salvador (10), Ghana (1), Guatemala (3), Guinea (1), Honduras (4), Korea (2), Macedonia (2), Mexico (12), Nicaragua (1), Pakistan (2), Philippines (4), Peru (4), Poland (1), Spain (1) and Venezuela (2).
ICE said among those arrested included a 24-year-old Jamaican national, who has been convicted of endangering the welfare of a child, and lewdness.
A 23-year-old Anguillan national, who is a member of the Bloods gang, was also arrested, ICE said.
The agency said of those arrested during the operation, which was spearheaded by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), 77 percent were convicted criminals, and 70 percent had prior felony convictions.
“The remarkable results of our officers and law enforcement partners highlight ICE’s ongoing commitment to public safety,” said John Tsoukaris, Field Office Director of ERO, Newark.
“This operation focuses on the arrest of individuals convicted of serious crimes and are a threat to public safety,” he added. “Because of the targeted efforts of these professional officers, there are 91 fewer criminals in our communities.”
ICE said the immigrants “will go through removal proceedings before an immigration judge; or, for those under a final order of removal, arrangements will be made to remove them from the U.S.”
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection is extremely proud to have assisted in this operation,” said Frank Russo, acting director of the agency’s New York field office. “It is through collaborative efforts that law enforcement agencies can combat illegal acts and apprehend criminals who pose a threat to the Homeland.”
ICE said the individuals were arrested in the following counties in New Jersey: Atlantic (3), Bergen (5), Burlington (3), Camden (3), Cumberland (6), Essex (19), Hudson (15), Mercer (7), Middlesex (7), Monmouth (1), Passaic (10), Union (8), and Warren (2).
Also, ICE said one individual was arrested in New Castle County in Delaware, and one individual was arrested in Bronx County in New York.
They range from age 19 to 78 years old, and all were previously convicted of a variety of offenses, ICE said.
Agency officials said some of those convictions included sexual assault on a minor, child abuse, possession of narcotics, distribution of narcotics, money laundering, driving under the influence (DUI), fraud, domestic violence, theft, possession of a weapon, burglary, larceny, aggravated assault, aggravated assault on law enforcement, resisting arrest, endangering the welfare of a child, kidnapping and illegal re-entry.
