ICE Nabs 13 Hudson Valley Residents in NY Operation

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Thirteen Hudson Valley residents were among 114 foreign nationals arrested during a recently operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in and around New York City. They include six from Westchester, three from Rockland, two from Dutchess, and one each from Orange and Hudson counties.

The 11-day operation, conducted by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, targeted criminals and people who have violated US immigration laws, including those who re-entered the country after being deported and immigration fugitives ordered removed by federal immigration judges.

Of those arrested during the operation which ended Saturday, 82 had criminal histories. Fifteen have pending criminal charges, ICE officials said. Another 37 had final orders of removal.

Anyone with an outstanding order of removal is subject to immediate removal from the country. That's what happened to Ossining High School senior Diego Puma Macancela and his mother, Rosa. (Click here to get Patch’s daily newsletter, news alerts and updates.)

“Our nation has a proud history of immigration, but we are also a nation governed by laws specifically designed to protect its citizens and residents. ERO deportation officers are committed to enforcing the immigration laws set forth by our legislators,” said Thomas Decker, field office director for ERO New York, in an announcement about the latest arrests.

Eleven of the people arrested during the enforcement action will be presented for federal prosecution for re-entry after deportation, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison, ICE officials said. Those not being criminally prosecuted will be processed for removal from the country.

Queens and Manhattan accounted for the largest number of arrests during the operation, but ERO personnel conducted enforcement actions in a total of 12 communities.

The violent criminals included:

• An Ecuadorian citizen convicted of rape
• A Jamaican national arrested in Queens with a prior conviction of forcible touching, robbery in the 1st degree, and act in manner to injure a child less than 17
• A Mexican national arrested in New York whose criminal record includes manslaughter in the 1st degree

DWI was the most frequent criminal charge (against 17 people) followed by drug trafficking (against 10), assault (8), fraud (7), drug possession (5), strong arm robbery (4), sex assault (3), possession of a firearm (3), forgery (3) and endangering the welfare of a child (2).

Nine had been released from local custody despite an active detainer issued by ICE.

The arrestees (104 men and 10 women) included nationals from 35 countries, ICE officials said: Afghanistan (1); Algeria (1); Bangladesh (2); Barbados (1); China (3); Colombia (3); Costa Rica (1); Dominican Republic (15); Ecuador (16); Egypt (1); El Salvador (6); Gambia (1); Georgia (1); Grenada (1); Guatemala (5); Guinea (1); Haiti (5); Honduras (4); India (1); Indonesia (1); Israel (1); Ivory Coast (1); Jamaica (8); Jordan (1); Mexico (21); Montenegro (1); Niger (1); Pakistan (1); Poland (1); Romania (1); Spain (1); South Korea (1); Trinidad (3); Turkey (1); United Kingdom (1).

SEE ALSO:

• Rumors Swirl As ICE Returns to Ossining
  
• ICE Denies Stay for Teen It Snatched Before Prom
  
• ICE Arrests 6 in the Hudson Valley: VIDEO

PHOTO/ U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

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