ICE Arrests 58 Criminal Aliens in New York

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has arrested 58 criminal aliens in the New York metropolitan area, in an operation targeting deportable foreign nationals who have committed crimes sufficiently bad to warrant removal under President Barack Obama’s “priorities” for enforcement of existing laws.

According to ICE, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers arrested the 58 criminal alien individuals over the course of five days last week, ending on August 12. Those arrested had convictions for serious offenses including rape, kidnapping, robbery, and burglary.

“Our nation has a proud history of immigration, but we are also a nation governed by laws specifically designed to protect our citizens and residents. Those who come to the United States to prey upon our neighbors and communities will be prosecuted for their crimes and ultimately returned to their home countries,” Raymond Simonse, acting field office director for ERO New York, said in a statement.

Those who were arrested in last week’s operation will be processed for removal or criminally prosecuted. Those who already have outstanding orders for deportation are subject to immediate removal.

ICE noted that the aliens arrested last week were from 17 different countries including Trinidad, Dominican Republic, Belize, St. Vincent, Guyana, Philippines, Jamaica, Indonesia, Guatemala, Ecuador, Mexico, El Salvador, Lebanon, Colombia, Israel, Romania, and the United Kingdom.

While ICE’s Simonse highlighted this month’s arrests as underscoring that “ICE is committed to putting public safety first,” under the Obama Administration deportations — notably deportations of criminal aliens — have declined substantially.

According to the Center for Immigration Studies, the number of criminal alien removals this year is on pace to be 60 percent less than they were in 2011.

Nevertheless, those arrested last week include:

A 32-year-old Ecuadorian with convictions of sexual abuse and family neglect. He was arrested in Woodhaven.

A 51-year-old Salvadoran man with convictions for DUI and of rape in the 3rd degree.  He was arrested in Central Islip.

A 35-year-old Mexican man with convictions for two counts of sexual battery and a DUI.  He was arrested in Brooklyn.

A 38-year-old previously-removed Dominican man with a conviction for cocaine trafficking.  He was arrested in the Bronx.  He will be prosecuted federally by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District for re-entry after deportation.