ICE Arrests 31 In NY Metro Area Sweep Including Hudson Valley

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers conducted a round-up from May 19-23 that included arrests in Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Ulster and Westchester counties.

Officers from ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations New York arrested 31 during the 5-day enforcement surge in New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley.

Of those arrested, more than 26 were convicted criminals or had criminal charges pending, more than 29 had been issued a final order of removal and failed to depart the United States, or had been previously removed from the United States, ICE officials said. Some of those arrested during these enforcement actions may face federal criminal prosecution for illegal re-entry after removal.

The arrestees who are not being federally prosecuted will be processed administratively for removal from the United States. Those who have outstanding orders of removal, or who returned to the United States illegally after being removed, are generally subject to immediate removal from the country. Two individuals are in ICE custody awaiting a hearing before an immigration judge.

“ICE officers conduct targeted enforcement actions daily, and like in this initiative, we arrest criminal aliens who are public safety threats in the communities,” said Thomas R. Decker, field office director for ERO New York. “With the misinformation and misrepresentation about ICE, we continue to focus of the truth of our priority, which is to target and arrest criminal aliens to remove them off the streets in the interest of public safety.”

Among those arrested were:

• In Brewster, a citizen of Guatemala, with an outstanding removal order, who was previously convicted of assault, and resisting arrest.

The arrestees include nationals from: China, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, St. Kitts, and Ukraine.