ICE Arrests 13 In 4-Day NJ 'Surge' Operation

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 13 immigrants in New Jersey during a 4-day surge effort that targeted people for a variety of alleged offenses, the agency anounced Friday.

The 13 were either were issued a final order of removal in the past five years, failed to depart the United States by a specific deadline and/or they were convictied on criminal charges. Or they may have pending criminal charges, ICE said in a release.

“As this operation clearly demonstrates, ICE continues to focus its efforts first on public safety threats,” said ERO Newark Field Office Director John Tsoukaris. “The vast majority of the individuals targeted in this effort have criminal offenses in addition to their immigration violations, making them among the highest priority for enforcement.”

Names were not released but ICE cited several people who were busted:

• On May 13, ICE says it arrested an unlawfully present citizen of El Salvador with prior convictions for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon/bodily injury.
• On May 14, ICE says it arrested an unlawfully present citizen of Ecuador who has a pending assault / domestic violence charge.
• On May 15, ICE says it arrested an unlawfully present citizen of Jamaica who has a prior firearms-related offense.
• On May 16, 2019, ICE says it arrested an unlawfully present citizen of Mexico who has a pending simple assault/domestic violence charge and two DUI convictions.

All four individuals have been ordered removed by a federal immigration judge.

Some of the individuals arrested during this operation will face federal criminal prosecution for illegal re-entry after removal. The arrestees who are not being federally prosecuted will be processed administratively for removal from the United States, the release says.

Those who have outstanding orders of removal, or who returned to the United States illegally after being removed, are generally subject to immediate removal from the country. The remaining individuals are in ICE custody awaiting a hearing before an immigration judge or pending travel arrangements for removal, ICE says.