Police arrest Columbian man, notify immigration official

Monday, August 27, 2007

By JASON TSAI
STAFF WRITER


ELMWOOD PARK — A 27-year-old native Columbian became the first undocumented resident to be reported to immigration officials by borough police under a new state directive.

Monday’s arrest of Sabian Velasco, of 3rd Street, came five days after state Attorney General Anne Milgram said local police must now notify the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of all illegal-immigrant arrests.

Velasco was arrested around 1:30 p.m. after he chased people inside his house with a three-foot machete, said police Sgt. Bryan DiPasquale.

DiPasquale described the victims as “in their 40s and familiar with [Velasco].â€