In Controversial Case, North Brunswick Man Deported

NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — A North Brunswick man who came to the U.S. illegally and ignored a previous deportation order was deported to his native Honduras this week, according to a spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

He is one of many across the U.S. who have been deported under President Donald Trump's controversial crackdown on illegal immigration. The man, Melvin Herrera-Interiano, 50, had no other criminal history in the U.S. other than the fact that he came to the country illegally.

"Melvin Herrera-Interiano, a Honduran national, was removed to Honduras by ICE on March 4 due to an order of removal issued in 2005," said ICE spokesman Emilio Dabul.

Herrera-Interiano, 50, lived in North Brunswick with his family and worked as a construction worker. He leaves his partner and three children behind here in the U.S., two of whom were born here and are diagnosed with autism, reported MyCentralJersey, which first reported the story.

As Patch reported last month, Herrera-Interiano was stopped by Plainfield police on Nov. 19, 2019 for a traffic violation, according to Plainfield police Capt. David Guarino. He was pulled over for making an illegal turn at a traffic light.

Guarino said Plainfield police ran Herrera-Interiano's name in the National Crime Information Center database, which they do anytime they stop someone.

The search turned up an existing ICE deportation warrant, signed by a federal judge. That warrant had been issued for his arrest because he violated a previous federal deportation order.

Herrera-Interiano was taken into custody by Plainfield police and handed over to ICE.

"Herrera-Interiano, a Hondoran national, entered the U.S. illegally at an unknown date and location, and was later encountered and arrested by Border Patrol on May 29, 2005," said Dabul. "He was issued a notice to appear in immigration court and failed to do so. He was ordered removed in absentia by an immigration judge Oct. 3, 2005."

Plainfield police were criticized by some immigration advocates for their decision to call ICE and hold the man for them, saying the police may have violated Gov. Murphy's Immigrant Trust Directive, a set of laws that limit how much local law enforcement can work with ICE.

The directive prohibits local law enforcement from holding someone for ICE unless that person has been convicted of a serious crime, such as sex assault or murder, or has a pending deportation order from a judge.

Guarino said Plainfield police were fully compliant with both the AG's order, and federal immigration law.

"It was a warrant signed by a judge," the police captain told Patch last month. "ICE was here in less than three hours and took him ... People are upset, I understand. It's a delicate subject."

Before he was sent back to his native Honduras this week, Herrera-Interiano had been held in ICE custody in Newark.

This week, a spokesman for U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez called deporting Herrera-Interiano "a mistake."

"Deporting Mr. Herrera-Interiano and separating him from his family, especially his two children with autism who are also American citizens, only hurts these kids and deprives them of the love and support they deserve and need to thrive,” Menendez spokesman Steven Sandberg told MyCentralJersey this week.

Past Patch reporting on Melvin Herrera-Interiano: Plainfield PD Stands By Release Of Man To ICE After Traffic Stop