ICE arrests 46 in New York operation targeting criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants,
ICE arrests 46 in western New York operation targeting criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants, and other immigration violators
By MALLORY DIEFENBACH
MDIEFENBACH@BATAVIANEWS.COM
PUBLISHED: FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 2018 AT 5:15 AM
BATAVIA — Ten people in the area were arrested in a five-day operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement targeting at-large criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants, and other immigration violators.
The operation brought in 46 foreign nationals across upstate New York, including one from Byron, two from Albion, one from Warsaw, three from Elba, two from Batavia and one from Bergen.
Of those arrested during the operation, which was spearheaded by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, 23 offenders, or 50 percent, had prior criminal convictions. Of the 23 non-criminal immigration violators, four are fugitives and six illegally re-entered the country after being deported.
Criminal convictions of those arrested included: felony grand larceny, firearms possession, drug possession, child endangerment, abuse, driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, and forgery.
Among those arrested were:
• a Jamaican national arrested in Albany who has prior convictions for possession of a weapon, loaded firearm, four counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, and larceny.
• a 39-year-old Mexican male with convictions for two counts of illegal entry, driving while intoxicated, and a protection order for domestic violence. He will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of his removal proceedings.
• a 23-year-old Guyanese male with convictions for driving while ability impaired and harassment, following his arrest on a charge of menacing with a weapon. He will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of his removal proceedings.
• a 53-year-old United Kingdom male with convictions for two separate convictions for felony grand larceny. He will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of his removal proceedings.
• a 49-year-old Vietnamese male with convictions for theft, burglary, abuse and menacing, following his arrest on charges of menacing with a weapon, child endangerment and criminal possession of a weapon.
He will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of his removal proceedings.
• a 46-year-old Guyanese female with convictions for forgery and larceny. She will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of her removal proceedings.
Federal officials did not say where any of those specific arrests occurred.
The operation, which concluded Jan. 12, targeted public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and individuals who have violated national immigration laws, including individuals who re-entered the country after being removed, along with other immigration violators and immigration fugitives ordered deported by federal immigration judges.
“Operations like this one demonstrate ICE’s continued focus on the arrest of dangerous criminal aliens as well as those who enter the United States illegally,” said Thomas Feeley, field office director for ERO Buffalo, which covers 48 counties in western, central and northern New York state, in a news release.
“Illegal aliens will not find safe harbor in New York.”
Some of the people arrested during this week’s enforcement action will be presented for federal prosecution on the charge of 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 from the country.
The arrestees (35 men and 11 women) included nationals from 16 countries including Guatemala, Cuba, Mexico, Thailand, Somalia, Jamaica, United Kingdom, Ecuador, Israel, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, Honduras, Belize, Guyana, Sierra Leone and India.
ICE deportation officers conduct 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.
During targeted enforcement operations, ICE officers frequently encounter additional suspects who may be in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws. Those people will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and, when appropriate, arrested by ICE.
ICE continues to focus its enforcement resources on individuals who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security, officials said in the release.
ICE conducts targeted immigration enforcement in compliance with federal law and agency policy. The agency does not exempt classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement. All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States.
http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/bd...ators-20180119
