4 From Bergen Arrested In ICE Sweep

Four people living in Bergen County were taken into custody during a month-long operation conducted by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in New Jersey, according to authorities.

The operation, which was spearheaded by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, targeted at-large criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants and other immigration violators who had prior arrests or convictions for DUI, according to an ICE release.

Of those arrested during the operation, 90 percent had prior criminal convictions and/or pending criminal charges, according to the release.

Some individuals also had arrests or convictions for sexual assault on a minor, child abuse, possession of narcotics, distribution of narcotics, fraud, criminal restraint, domestic violence, possession of a weapon, aggravated assault, resisting arrest, endangering the welfare of a child, fraud, promoting gambling, shoplifting, burglary, forgery and illegal reentry, according to the release.

These individuals were arrested in the following counties in New Jersey: Bergen (4), Burlington (4), Camden (4), Cumberland (9), Essex (13), Hudson (8), Mercer (10), Middlesex (14), Monmouth (12), Morris (10), Ocean (3), Passaic (2), Somerset (6), and Union (23).

Here is where some of them were found:

• In Red Bank, a 30-year-old Mexican national, who has convictions for DUI and endangering the welfare of a child;
• In Princeton, a 38-year-old previously deported Guatemalan national, who has convictions for aggravated assault and possession of a weapon
• In Morristown, a 50-year-old Honduran national, who has convictions for DUI and burglary;
• In Newark, a 41-year-old Peruvian national, who has convictions for DUI, distribution of marijuana, shoplifting, and promoting gambling;
• In Somerset, a 32-year-old Mexican national, who has convictions for DUI and endangering abuse/neglect of a person;
• In Plainfield, a 42-year-old previously deported Ecuadorian national, who has a prior conviction for criminal sexual contact and a recent arrest for DUI;

The individuals arrested throughout New Jersey were nationals of Brazil (3), Costa Rica (3), Dominican Republic (1), Ecuador (16), El Salvador (8), Guatemala (24), Honduras (14), Jamaica (1), Mexico (41), Nicaragua (1), Peru (6), Poland (2), Spain (2), and Trinidad (1).

"The remarkable results of our officers and law enforcement partners highlight ICE's ongoing commitment to public safety," said John Tsoukaris, field office director of ERO Newark. "This operation 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 and dedicated officers, there are 123 fewer criminals in our communities."

The operation was supported by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Michae,l and the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), under the direction of Troy Miller, director of the New York Field Office.

These individuals will go through removal proceedings before an immigration judge. For those under a final order of removal, arrangements will be made to remove them from the U.S.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com