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Six Westchester Foreign Nationals Taken Into Custody In ICE Sweep

A total of 13 Hudson Valley residents were among 114 foreign nationals from New York taken into custody during a recently concluded 11-day operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) deportation officers in the southern New York area.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Photo Credit: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The operation targeted at-large criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants and immigration fugitives, ICE said in a statement.

Six people were taken into custody in Westchester, three from Rockland, two from Dutchess, and one from Orange as well as Hudson County.

Eighty two of those those arrested during the enforcement action which ended Saturday had criminal histories, including prior convictions for sex crimes, drug offenses, and fraud. 15 have pending criminal charges including assault, larceny and sexual exploitation of a minor. 37 individuals have final orders of removal. Nine of those arrested were released from local custody on an active detainer.

One has a pending dangerous drug charge and a final order of removal. 

Thomas Decker, field office director for ERO New York, said the operation focused on criminal aliens who pose a public safety threat and individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws, including those who re-entered the country after being deported and immigration fugitives ordered removed by federal immigration judges.

“Our nation has a proud history of immigration, but we are also a nation governed by laws specifically designed to protect its citizens and residents. ERO deportation officers are committed to enforcing the immigration laws set forth by our legislators,” Decker said. “Of those arrested during this operation, nine were released from New York custody with an active detainer, which poses an increased risk to the officers and the community. 

"Regardless of politics, ICE will be diligent in its responsibility to find those who come to the United States to prey upon our communities and ultimately return them to their home countries.”

Eleven of the individuals arrested during the enforcement action will be presented 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. Individuals who have outstanding orders of removal, or who returned to the United States illegally after being deported, are subject to immediate removal from the country.

The arrestees (104 men and 10 women) included nationals from 35 countries, with the breakdown as follows: Afghanistan (1); Algeria (1); Bangladesh (2); Barbados (1); China (3); Colombia (3); Costa Rica (1); Dominican Republic (15); Ecuador (16); Egypt (1); El Salvador (6); Gambia (1); Georgia (1); Grenada (1); Guatemala (5); Guinea (1); Haiti (5); Honduras (4); India (1); Indonesia (1); Israel (1); Ivory Coast (1); Jamaica (8); Jordan (1); Mexico (21); Montenegro (1); Niger (1); Pakistan (1); Poland (1); Romania (1); Spain (1); South Korea (1); Trinidad (3); Turkey (1); United Kingdom (1).

Queens and Manhattan accounted for the largest number of arrests during the operation, but ERO personnel conducted enforcement actions in a total of 12 communities.

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