News Releases and Statements
News Releases and Statements
Sergio Amador-Olive, 37, from Mexico, was arrested April 28 at his Salt Lake City residence. Amador-Olive had a warrant for his arrest for failing to register as a sex offender. As an illegal alien with multiple state and federal convictions, he is also an ICE priority for immigration enforcement.
Saifullah Anjum Ranjha, 53, pleaded guilty in 2008 to laundering more than $2.2 million – which he believed to be the proceeds of illegal activities conducted by al-Qaida, including drug trafficking and weapons smuggling.
Sergio Mendez-Guillen, 57, was repatriated April 21 via an ICE charter flight to Guatemala City.
Kenedy Agileo Pineda-Morales, 41, was arrested by authorities without incident April 13, in Saratoga Springs, New York. A preliminary investigation determined that Pineda-Morales was living under an assumed name in the area. Authorities confirmed his true identity using biometric information and photos.
Arturo Alcala-Mendez , 41, was repatriated on board an ICE Air flight that originated in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. After arriving at the Port of Entry in Brownsville, Texas, ERO officers transferred Alcala-Mendez to the custody of Mexican law enforcement.
Felipe Escobar-Martinez, 41, of Veracruz, Mexico, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in September during a targeted enforcement operation in New Iberia.
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.
Gerardo Rafael Villasana-Serrano, aka Jerry Villasana, 46, a Mexican national, was arrested Friday by ERO Fugitive Operations Team officers. Villasana-Serrano was convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a minor in 1991 in Lake County, Illinois.
Luis Angel Romo, 29, and Fidel Muñoz-Gomez, 35, were turned over to Mexican authorities March 31 at the international boundary on El Paso’s Stanton Bridge Port of Entry.
Wilber Antonio Hernandez-Hernandez, 32, an alleged MS-13 gang member, was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice for sexual assault charges. Carlos Ulises Mendoza-Mendoza, 23, was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice for aggravated homicide. Both departed Alexandria International Airport in Louisiana on an ICE Air Operations charter flight and arrived at San Salvador International Airport in El Salvador where they were transferred to the custody of the Policia Nacional Civil (PNC).
Daniel Espino-Alferes, 26, was turned over to Mexican authorities April 1 on the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge at the Laredo, Texas, port of entry.
Following a lead from the USMS, Deputy U.S. Marshals and officers from ICE ERO Houston – Fugitive Operations Team located and arrested Efren Cruz-Nunez, a citizen of Honduras who entered the United States in 1998.
Juan Ramon Gonzalez-Hernandez, 22, was flown to El Salvador March 18 and turned over to Salvadoran officials.
Jose Carlos Granado-Melgar, 29, was flown to El Salvador March 17 onboard a charter flight coordinated by ICE’s Air Operations (IAO) Unit. Upon arrival, Granado-Melgar was turned over to officials from El Salvador’s Policia Nacional Civil (PNC).
All 15 arrested have been convicted of crimes in the United States and fall within ICE’s enforcement priorities for deportation. They have been convicted of the following crimes: aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a minor, aggravated unlawful use of a firearm, aggravated drunk driving, aggravated battery/great bodily harm, lewd and lascivious behavior in public, and drug possession.
Amir Abbas Tamimi, 44, was repatriated on board a commercial flight escorted by Philadelphia-based ERO officers. After arriving at Imam Khomeini International Airport, ERO officers transferred Tamimi to the custody of Iranian law enforcement.
All of those arrested by ICE during last week’s enforcement action met one of the agency’s top two enforcement priorities. All encountered had criminal records, some were felony convictions for serious or violent offenses, such as manslaughter, child abuse, robbery, false imprisonment, felony DUI, hit and run, armed burglary, racketeering, as well as weapons and drug violations.
Bahena’s efforts – and those of the nearly 200 servicemen and women in the Army National Guard’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Normal, Illinois – were recognized Feb. 26, 2016 at the 16th Annual Reserve Family Readiness Award ceremony at the Pentagon.
Juan Saul Mendoza-Contreras, 29, also known as “El Chacala,” was turned over to Mexican authorities at the international boundary on El Paso’s Stanton Bridge Port of Entry.
Jonathan Javier Mejia-Ventura, 18, was encountered Aug. 15, 2015, by U.S. Customs and Border Protection near Hebbronville, Texas, after he illegally crossed the border into the United States.
Officials came together in El Paso, Texas, for the Repatriation Strategy and Policy Executive Coordination Team (RESPECT) meeting to discuss bilateral efforts and successes regarding repatriation processes.
Oytun Ayse Mihalik, 43, formerly of La Palma, was repatriated on board commercial flights escorted by San Francisco-based ERO officers. After arriving at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, ERO officers transferred Mihalik to the custody of Turkish law enforcement.
Carlo Figueroa-Macedo, who entered the United States in 1977 as a lawful immigrant, was ordered removed by an immigration judge in August 2011. Figueroa-Macedo’s lawful status was revoked based on his criminal convictions involving moral turpitude.
Those arrested had criminal histories that included convictions for the following crimes: driving under the influence (DUI), burglary, resisting officer, making a false report, hit and run, obstructing a police officer, forgery, damage property, cocaine possession, assault, shoplifting, narcotic equipment possession, simple assault, amphetamine possession, dangerous drugs (heroin), carrying a concealed weapon, and controlled substance distribution.
Benito Alvarez-Gonzalez, 31, is accused of kidnapping two 15- and 17-year-old boys in Mexico in December 2015. He allegedly raped and shot the 17-year-old boy five times killing him; but the 15-year-old was able to escape and notify Mexican authorities.
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