Union County Gang Members, Murderer Among 8 Busted In ICE Sweep

UNION COUNTY, NJ — Two El Salvadorian nationals, who are members of the international criminal gangMS-13, and a Colombian murderer were among eight Union County locals to be taken into custody during a five-day operation conducted last week by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New Jersey.

Among those arrested in Union County during this operation include:

• In Elizabeth, a 42-year-old Colombian national, who has a conviction for homicide;
• In Plainfield, 22- and 23-year-old El Salvadorian nationals, who are members of MS-13.

The operation targeted at-large criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants and other immigration violators. The operation was supported by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) New Jersey Field Office, according to the release.

Of those arrested during the operation, which was spearheaded by ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), 77 percent were convicted criminals and 70 percent of them had prior felony convictions.

The breakdown in arrests by New Jersey counties include: Atlantic (three), Bergen (five), Burlington (three), Camden (three), Cumberland (six), Essex (19), Hudson (15), Mercer (seven), Middlesex (seven), Monmouth (one), Passaic (10), Union (eight), and Warren (two). Also, one individual was arrested in New Castle county in Delaware and one individual was arrested in Bronx county in New York.

These individuals will go through removal proceedings before an immigration judge. For those under a final order of removal, arrangements will be made to remove them from the United States.

(Image via John Moore/GettyImages)

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