54 in NJ ICE Bust As Search For 3 'Public Safety Threats' Goes On

NEW JERSEY – More than 50 people in communities across New Jersey were arrested during a week-long probe targeting what ICE calls "public safety threats" following their release from local law enforcement custody. Three more people remain at-large, the agency says.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the 54 people were released to the community instead of being transferred to ICE.

The identities of the 54 people were not released, and it's not known why they were released to the community before they were busted by ICE. Some law enforcement authorities across America have not enforced fully enforced immigration law, saying it causes immigrants to avoid police, resist reporting crimes and become less cooperative in law enforcement investigations.

Those arrested come from 12 countries – Mexico (21), Jamaica (1), Ecuador (2), Honduras (4), Dominican Republic (3), El Salvador (9), Guatemala (3), Guyana (1), Brazil (7), Costa Rica (1), Georgia (1) and Pakistan (1), according to an ICE release.

Even with these arrests, there are three people who pose what ICE says are "public safety threats" to New Jersey communities:

• Luciano Trejo-Dominguez, 33, was arrested Aug. 12 by the Vineland Police Department for aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault (the victim was 13-15 years old), criminal restraint, criminal sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a child. On Aug. 13 and Aug. 14, the Pacific Enforcement Response Center and the ICE office in Mount Laurel both lodged detainers on Trejo-Dominguez with the Cumberland County Jail. He was released into the community Aug. 23 and remains at-large, according to the release.
• On Aug. 18, Edgar Camarillo-Ruiz, 33, was arrested by the New Brunswick Police Department for the charge of simple assault - domestic violence. On Aug. 19, ICE lodged a detainer with the Middlesex County jail; however, the detainer was not honored, and Camarillo-Ruiz was released into the community, according to the release. He remains at-large.
• On Dec. 24, 2018, Elvis Rafael Cabrera-Vasquez, 38, was arrested by the Perth Amboy Police Department and charged with simple assault/domestic violence. ICE lodged a detainer that same day with the Middlesex County Jail; however, the detainer was not honored, and Cabrera-Vasquez was released into the community, according to the release. On Feb. 14, Cabrera-Vasquez was arrested by the Perth Amboy Police Department and charged with contempt-violating a domestic violence judicial order.

“ERO deportation officers are committed to enforcing immigration laws fairly and professionally,” said acting Field Office Director Ruben Perez for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Newark. “These vital operations clearly show whom ICE targets in an effort to protect the nation, while seeking to remove criminal aliens who pose a clear threat to public safety.”

ICE lodges detainers on individuals who have been arrested on criminal charges and who ICE has probable cause to believe are "removable," the release said.

The detainer asks the other law enforcement agencies to notify ICE in advance of release and to maintain custody of the person for a brief period of time so that ICE can take custody in what it calls "a safe and secure setting" upon release from that agency’s custody.