ICE arrests 44 in NJ during 5-day enforcement effort targeting sex offenders
NEWARK, N.J. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Newark Field Office executed a "Crimes against Children" operation April 4 through 8 as part of the agency's public safety efforts.
All of the targets in this operation met the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) highest immigration enforcement priorities as established in DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson's 2014 memorandum. The operation netted a total of 44 arrests of individuals convicted of crimes against children.
The individuals arrested throughout New Jersey were nationals of Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, England, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
"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 took advantage of children. Because of the tireless efforts and teamwork of ERO officers and our law enforcement partners, there are 44 fewer criminals in our neighborhoods," he added.
These individuals range from age 19 to 61 years old and all were previously convicted of a variety of offenses. Some of the convictions included sexual abuse of a minor, criminal sexual contact of a child, luring or enticing a child, endangering the welfare of a child, sexual assault of a minor, child abuse, child neglect and indecent exposure.
Among those arrested during this operation include:
- A Haitian citizen convicted of criminal sexual contact against a child and endangering the welfare of a child.
- An Ecuadorian citizen convicted of luring or enticing a child, attempted endangering the welfare of a child, and endangering the welfare of a child.
- A Guatemalan citizen convicted of criminal sexual contact on a child.
- A Cuban national convicted of three counts of sexual assault of a minor.
In fiscal year 2015, ICE conducted 235,413 removals nationwide. Ninety-one percent of individuals removed from the interior of the United States had previously been convicted of a criminal offense.
ICE 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.
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