ICE arrests 54 in NJ during a week-long enforcement action targeting at-large criminal aliens released into the community

NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested 54 individuals throughout New Jersey during a weeklong action targeting public safety threats who were released from local law enforcement custody into the community instead of being transferred to ICE.

They hail from 12 countries – Mexico (21), Jamaica (1), Ecuador (2), Honduras (4), Dominican Republic (3), El Salvador (9), Guatemala (3), Guyana (1), Brazil (7), Costa Rica (1), Georgia (1) and Pakistan (1).

Even with these arrests, there are still public safety threats in the community.

• Luciano Trejo-Dominguez, 33, was arrested Aug. 12 by the Vineland Police Department for aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault (victim 13-15 years old), criminal restraint, criminal sexual contact and endangering the welfare of a child. On Aug. 13, 2019 and Aug. 14, 2019, respectively, the Pacific Enforcement Response Center and the ICE office in Mount Laurel both lodged detainers on Trejo-Dominguez with the Cumberland County Jail. He was released into the community Aug. 23, 2019, and remains at-large.
• On Aug. 18, 2019, Edgar Camarillo-Ruiz,33, was arrested by the New Brunswick Police Department for the charge of Simple Assault - Domestic Violence. On August 19, 2019, ICE lodged a detainer with the Middlesex County Jail; however, the detainer was not honored, and Camarillo-Ruiz was released into the community. He remains at-large.
• On Dec. 24, 2018, Elvis Rafael Cabrera-Vasquez, 38, was arrested by the Perth Amboy, New Jersey, Police Department and charged with Simple Assault/Domestic Violence. ICE lodged a detainer that same day with the Middlesex County Jail; however, the detainer was not honored, and Cabrera-Vasquez was released into the community. On Feb. 14, 2019, Cabrera-Vasquez was arrested by the Perth Amboy, New Jersey Police Department and charged with Contempt-Violate a Domestic Violence Judicial Order.

All three men are wanted by ICE and featured on the agency’s website with a public appeal for information leading to their capture.

“ERO deportation officers are committed to enforcing immigration laws fairly and professionally,” said acting Field Office Director Ruben Perez for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Newark. “These vital operations clearly show who ICE targets in an effort to protect the nation, while seeking to remove criminal aliens who pose a clear threat to public safety.”

ICE lodges detainers on individuals who have been arrested on criminal charges and who ICE has probable cause to believe are removable aliens. The detainer asks the other law enforcement agency to notify ICE in advance of release and to maintain custody of the alien for a brief period of time so that ICE can take custody of that person in a safe and secure setting upon release from that agency’s custody. When law enforcement agencies fail to honor immigration detainers and release serious criminal offenders onto the streets, it undermines ICE’s ability to protect public safety and carry out its mission.

ERO deportation officers targeted at-large criminal aliens in non-cooperative jurisdictions, illegal re-entrants, immigration fugitives, and people in violation of immigration law during the operation which ran from Saturday, Sept. 21, to Wednesday, Sept. 25.

In FY2018, ERO arrested 158,581 aliens, 90% of whom had criminal convictions (66%) pending criminal charges (21%) or previously issued final orders of removal (3%). The overall arrest figure represents an 11% increase over FY2017. In FY2018, ERO removed 256,086 illegal aliens, reflecting an increase of 13% over FY2017. Most removals (57%) were convicted criminals. Additionally, 5,914 of the removed illegal aliens were classified as either known or suspected gang members or terrorists, which is a 9% increase over FY2017.

These arrests were driven by leads developed by the local field office in conjunction with the Pacific Enforcement Response Center and the National Criminal Alien Targeting Center. ICE focuses its enforcement resources on individuals who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security. However, ICE does not exempt classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement. All those in violation of immigration law may be subject to arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States. ICE does not conduct sweeps or raids that arrest aliens indiscriminately.