ICE Arrests Immigrant On Probation In New City

NEW CITY, NY — Federal deportation officers made an arrest in New City earlier this week during a sweep targeting people with criminal histories related to sex offenses. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations arrested 16 alleged sexual predators during a 2-day period ending Sep. 11 in the Hudson Valley, New York City and on Long Island.

The enforcement effort was dubbed “Operation SOAR” (Sex Offender Alien Removal).

“Many of those arrested in this operation had been found guilty of inappropriate sexual behavior against a minor,” said Thomas R. Decker, field office director for ERO New York, in a press release about the sweep. “Our communities are safer, our children are safer, from the efforts of the men and women of ICE. We have removed them from our city’s streets and we will seek to remove them from the United States.”

The New City arrest was of a 22-year-old Salvadoran, an ICE spokeswoman said. He was previously convicted of "Sexual Abuse in the Second degree" in violation of New York Penal Law 130.60(02), and was sentenced to six years of probation supervision with the Rockland County Department of Probation. He was arrested by ERO officers Sept. 10.

The arrests that ICE officials highlighted in the press release:

• In the Bronx, a 53 year-old, Mexican national, released from NYPD custody with an active detainer, who has convictions for criminal possession of a loaded firearm; criminal possession of a weapon: defaced for concealment; and sexual misconduct: male has intercourse with a female without her consent;
• In Manhattan, a 42 year-old previously removed Salvadoran national, who has a conviction for sexual abuse of a child less than 11 years of age;
• In Maspeth, a 39 year-old Dominican national, who has a conviction for sexual abuse, and is a registered sexual offender;
• In Wyandanch, a 32 year-old Guatemalan national, who has a conviction for course of sexual conduct against a child less than 13 years of age;
• In Huntington Station, a 40 year-old previously removed Salvadoran national, who has a conviction for rape, and who has failed to register as a sexual offender;
• In Deer Park, a 54 year-old Italian national, who has a conviction for possession of sexual performance by child less than 16 years of age;
• In the Bronx, a 42 year-old Ghanaian national, who has a conviction for sexual contact with an individual greater than 17 incapable of giving consent;

ICE officials said the criminal histories of those arrested during the operation included: Acting in Manner Injure Child, Assault, Attempted Assault, Attempted Rape 1st: Forcible Compulsion, Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child Criminal Possession of a Loaded Firearm, Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Disorderly Conduct, Forcible Touching, Harassment, Possession of Sexual Performance; Sexual Abuse 1st, Sexual Abuse 2nd, Sexual Contact, Sexual Misconduct, and Unlawful Surveillance.

In addition to New City, ERO deportation officers made arrests in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and in Deer Park, Freeport, Greenlawn, Huntington Station, and Wyandanch on Long Island.

One of the people arrested during this operation will face federal criminal prosecutions for illegal re-entry after deportation and failure to register as a sexual offender, ICE officials said.

The arrestees who are not being federally prosecuted are in ICE custody, and will be processed administratively for removal from the United States. Anyone who returns to the United States illegally after being deported, is subject to immediate removal from the country, officials said.

PHOTO/ ICE