Immigration and Customs Officers arrested 225 during a six-day period, some of which were involved in child sex crimes, in New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley. The operation ended on April 14th, 2018.
Of the arrested, over 180 were convicted criminals or had criminal charges pending against them, in addition, more than eighty were issued final orders of removal and had failed to depart the United States.
Several of the arrested were involved in serious offenses such as child sex crimes, weapons charges, and assault, or had past convictions for significant or multiple misdemeanors.
“ICE continues to face significant obstacles with policies created by local officials which hinder cooperation between ICE and local law enforcement. Yet, with the tireless efforts of the men and women of ICE, this operation was a great success,” said Thomas R. Decker, field office director for ERO New York. “The fact is that a so-called “sanctuary city” does not only provide refuge to those who are here against immigration law, but also provides protections for criminal aliens who prey on the people in their own communities by committing crimes at all levels. ICE is committed to enforcing the immigration laws set forth by Congress with integrity, despite the push-back and rhetoric within the city they serve.” – ICE
Sanctuary Cities; according to ICE, in the years past, most of the individuals arrested would have been directly turned over to ICE upon their release from jail by local authorities. However, in many cities, like New York City, thanks to the regulation that forces local law enforcement to not honor ICE detainers, the individuals as mentioned earlier, who have significant criminal histories up to and including child sex crimes, are released back onto the street.
