Feds, local cops rounded up 100 gang members last week

Monday, June 23, 2008BY ELIZABETH LLORENTESTAFF WRITER

Federal agents and local police authorities arrested nearly 100 alleged gang members and associates around New Jersey last week, immigration officials announced today.

Five of those arrested are residents of the City of Passaic, officials said. The rest are from Hudson, Union and Middlesex counties, they said.

The suspected gang members and associates are natives of Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and the Dominican Republic, officials said, adding that 30 are here illegally.

The arrests, which occurred between June 15 and June 21, were part of Operation Community Shield, launched in 2005 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to target street gangs.

“ICE has unique immigration and customs law enforcement authorities which complement the authorities of our federal, state and local partners,â€