5 Hudson Valley Residents Picked Up In ICE Sweep

A Putnam County resident and four Westchester residents were arrested during a November operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations. ERO deportation officers in New York targeted at-large criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants, and immigration fugitives during the operation which ran Nov. 13 - Nov. 20.

Although Kings and Queens counties accounted for the largest number of arrests during the operation, ERO deportation officers conducted enforcement actions in all boroughs of New York City, and Putnam and Westchester counties.

County Arrest Totals

• Bronx - 6
• Kings - 23
• New York - 4
• Putnam - 1
• Queens - 14
• Richmond - 3
• Westchester - 4

“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. “Forty-two of the 55 arrested during this operation were released from New York custody with an active detainer, which poses an increased risk to the officers and the community. It is important for city residents to know that although the City of New York releases inmates with active ICE detainers back into their community, ICE will be diligent in its responsibility to find those who come to the United States to prey upon our communities and ultimately have them removed from the country."

The arrestees (46 men and 9 women) included nationals from 22 countries – Mexico (20); Jamaica (5), Ecuador (4), Honduras (3), Colombia (2), Dominican Republic (2), El Salvador (2), Guatemala (2), Yemen (2), Bangladesh (1), France (1), Guyana (1), Jordan (1), Nigeria (1), Poland (1), Romania (1), Slovakia (1), Spain (1), Trinidad (1), Yemen (1), Serbia (1), Egypt (1).

ICE did not identify any of the Hudson Valley residents.

ICE officials said some of those arrested will be presented for federal prosecution for re-entry after deportation, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Those not being criminally prosecuted will be processed for removal from the country. Individuals who have outstanding orders of deportation, or who returned to the United States illegally after being deported, are subject to immediate removal.

CE officials also said:

ERO deportation officers carry out targeted enforcement operations every day in locations around the country as part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to protect the nation, uphold public safety, and protect the integrity of our immigration laws and border controls. These operations involve existing, established Fugitive Operations Teams.
During such enforcement operations ICE officers frequently encounter additional suspects who may be in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws. Those individuals will be evaluated on a case by case basis and, when appropriate, arrested by ICE.

Image via ICE