Newark ICE Arrests 2 Immigrants After Middlesex County Releases From Custody

NEWARK, NJ — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers from the agency’s Newark office arrested two undocumented immigrants after they were released from the custody of Middlesex County, federal officials announced Monday.

According to ICE, neither of the arrested men have lawful status in the United States and both will remain in its custody pending removal proceedings.

The agency stated:

• “On May 18, ICE lodged an immigration detainer on Aurelio Hernandez Cortez, a Mexican citizen, with the Middlesex County Adult Correctional Facility. On May 18, the facility released him from custody without notification to ICE. Hernandez Cortez currently has a pending criminal charge in Middlesex County.”
• “On May 22, ICE lodged an immigration detainer on Maulik Gajjar, an Indian citizen, with the [Middlesex County Adult Correctional Facility]. On May 22, the correctional facility released him from custody without notification to ICE. Gajjar is currently facing state criminal charges.”

On June 7, ERO Newark officers arrested Gajjar outside his residence in Iselin. Newark officers arrested Hernandez Cortez outside his residence in Perth Amboy on June 8, ICE stated.

• See related article: No New Jersey Towns Make ICE's Controversial ‘Declined Detainer’ List
• See related article: Union County First In NJ To Decline Immigration Detainer Requests

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