MS-13, Murder Suspect Among 115 Busted In Major ICE Sweep In NJ

NEW JERSEY – A homicide suspect and an MS-13 gang member were arrested in a major statewide ICE sweep this past week that captured 115 people in at least 15 New Jersey towns, federal officials say (see list below).

A Brazilian national who was in the country illegally and wanted in Brazil for homicide was arrested during enforcement efforts conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, according to a press release.

The agency's Enforcement and Removal Operations, or ERO, in New Jersey targeted at-large criminal suspects and others who allegedly violated immigration laws, ICE says.

From January 27 to February 1, ICE arrested 115 foreign nationals, and 84 percent had prior criminal convictions and/or pending criminal charges, the release said.

Convictions and pending charges included: homicide, sexual assault on a minor, child abuse, possession of narcotics, distribution of narcotics, extortion, DUI, fraud, domestic violence, theft, possession of a weapon, robbery, aggravated assault, resisting arrest, endangering the welfare of a child, assault by auto, receiving stolen property, shoplifting, burglary and illegal reentry.

Both ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations, or HSI, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s New York Field Office assisted ERO with these arrests, the release said.

"The remarkable results of our officers and law enforcement partners highlight ICE’s ongoing commitment to public safety in the face of the New Jersey attorney general’s 'Immigrant Trust Directive,' which severely limits local and state law enforcement cooperation with ICE-ERO,” said Ruben Perez, acting field office director of ERO Newark.

“This targeted enforcement action focuses on the arrest of individuals convicted of serious crimes and are a threat to public safety. Because of the targeted efforts of these professional officers, there are 115 fewer criminals in our communities.”

Any local jurisdiction thinking that refusing to cooperate with ICE will result in a decrease in local immigration enforcement is "mistaken," the agency says.

These jurisdictions that choose to not cooperate with authorities are likely to see an increase in ICE enforcement activity, the agency says. More at-large, targeted enforcement actions will happen since ICE is unable to take custody of a criminal alien within the confines of a local jail, the agency says.

In 2018, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal issued a directive to all state, county and local law enforcement agencies in New Jersey limiting the types of voluntary assistance their officers may provide to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

The new rules are designed to strengthen trust between New Jersey law enforcement officers and the state's immigrant communities, according to a release from the Office of Attorney General.

Immigration advocates have said they believe fear of prosecution or deportation may be hampering the efforts to find out who's responsible for the disappearance of a 5-year-old girl in South Jersey. Read more: Cops' 'Psychic' Tips In Amber Alert Probe For 5-Year-Old NJ Girl

"We know from experience that individuals are far less likely to report a crime to the local police if they fear that the responding officer will turn them over to federal immigration authorities," said Grewal. "That fear makes it more difficult for officers to solve crimes and bring suspects to justice." Read more: NJ Imposes New Rules On Turning Over Unauthorized Immigrants

The recent arrests include:

• In Newark, a 53-year-old Brazilian national who has a warrant in Brazil for alleged homicide;
• In Fairfield, a 58-year-old Peruvian national who has a warrant in Peru for alleged extortion;
• In North Bergen, a 44-year-old Salvadoran national who has a conviction for the offense of endangering the welfare of a child;
• In Elizabeth, a 28-year-old Salvadoran national who has a pending case in El Salvador for alleged homicide;
• In Glassboro, a 60-year-old previously deported Mexican national who has a conviction for the offense of homicide;
• In Guttenberg, a 40-year-old Mexican national who has convictions for the offenses of child abuse, DUI and domestic violence;
• In North Brunswick, a 42-year-old Jamaican national who has convictions for the offenses of drug smuggling and exporting cocaine;
• In Plainfield, a 31-year-old previously deported Guatemalan national who has convictions for the offense of domestic violence and DUI;
• In Paterson, a 45-year-old Salvadoran national who has convictions for the offense of endangering the welfare of a child and DUI;
• In Passaic, a 50-year-old Bolivian national who multiple convictions for the offenses of endangering the welfare of a child, hindering apprehension and DUI;
• In Pompton Plains, a 55-year-old United Kingdom national who has convictions for the offenses of arson, domestic violence and distribution of narcotics;
• In West Milford, a 46-year-old previously deported Mexican national who has a conviction for criminal sexual contact involving a minor;
• In Paterson a 22-year-old Dominican national who is a member of the Trinitarios gang with convictions for the offenses of possession of a weapon and theft; and
• In Paterson, a 20-year-old Salvadoran national who is allegedly a member of the MS-13 gang.

The individuals arrested throughout New Jersey were nationals of Argentina (1), Bolivia (1), Brazil (4), Colombia (3), Costa Rica (1), Cuba (2), Dominican Republic (9), Ecuador (9), El Salvador (12), Ghana (1), Guatemala (16), Honduras (9), India (2), Jamaica (2), Mexico (32), Nigeria (1), Panama (1), Peru (2), Philippines (1), Poland (2), Spain (2), United Kingdom (1), and Venezuela (1), according to the press release.

Some will face federal criminal prosecutions for illegal entry and illegal re-entry after removal, the press release says. Anyone who illegally re-enters the United States after removal can face up to 20 years in federal prison if criminally prosecuted, the release says.

“U.S. Customs and Border Protection is extremely proud to have assisted in this targeted enforcement action,” said Troy Miller, director of the CBP New York Field Office. “It is through collaborative efforts that law enforcement agencies can combat illegal acts and apprehend criminals who pose a threat to the homeland.”