(Trinidad Express) A Trinidad and Tobago national is among 123 foreigners in the United States taken into custody during a month-long operation conducted by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New Jersey.
An ICE statement yesterday said: “The operation, which was spearheaded by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), targeted at-large criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants and other immigration violators who had prior arrests or convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI).”
Of those arrested during the operation, 90 per cent had prior criminal convictions and/or pending criminal charges, ICE said.
“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,” he added.
The operation was supported by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian Michael and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), under the direction of Troy Miller, Director, New York Field Office.
These individuals will go through removal proceedings before an Immigration judge or for those under a final order of removal, arrangements will be made to remove them from the US.
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).
ICE said: “They range from age 19 to 56 years old and the great majority were arrested or previously convicted of driving under the influence. 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 re-entry.”