The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency says several Caribbean nationals, including Jamaicans, are among 40 persons arrested during a four-day enforcement operation in New York State that ended on June 21.
Yesterday, ICE said the operation targeted at-large criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants, immigration fugitives and other immigration violators.
Those arrested – 35 men and five women were from 13 countries, including Jamaica, Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
The other countries were: Brazil, Canada, Guatemala, Malawi, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Somalia and Latvia.
“This operation targeted public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members, and individuals who have violated the immigration laws of the United States – including those who re-entered the country after being deported and immigration fugitives ordered deported by federal immigration judges,” ICE said.
It said of those arrested in central, western and northern New York State, almost 30 per cent had criminal convictions or pending criminal charges.
“I commend the brave men and women of ICE who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe in the State of New York,” said Thomas Feeley, field office director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Buffalo, which covers the 48 county region.
“ICE will continue to ensure that New York state will never be a safe haven for criminal aliens,” he added.
ICE said other cases included individuals with convictions for serious offenses involving sexual assault, assault, driving under the influence (DUI), firearms possession, theft, neglect of a child, larceny, illegal re-entry into the United States, contempt of court and statutory rape.
Seven of the individuals arrested during the enforcement action have been accepted for federal prosecution for 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.
ICE also said 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 enforcement actions were conducted in accordance with routine, daily target operations carried out by ICE Fugitive Operations Teams with the intent to arrest criminal aliens and other individuals who are in violation of our nation’s immigration laws,” ICE said.