ICE Arrests 37 Immigrants In ‘Sanctuary’ Middlesex County

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) went on a self-described “surge” last week in Middlesex County, arresting 37 people who they say are criminal aliens living in Middlesex County. The five-day surge concluded last Friday, July 13.

And ICE continued its attack on the Middlesex County Board of Freeholders, who they say are running a “sanctuary county” in Middlesex. Last week’s operation targeted criminal aliens who were previously incarcerated at the Middlesex County Jail, but then subsequently released by the jail back onto the streets, without honoring ICE detainer requests or advising ICE of their release.

This continues a bone of contention the feds have long had with liberal-leaning Middlesex County: Is Middlesex County a sanctuary county?

ICE says yes, because the county jail has a policy, voted on and approved by the freeholders last summer, of not complying with most ICE detainer requests.

Normally, if an undocumented immigrant is arrested and charged with a crime, ICE requests county jails hold the person for an additional 48 hours so they can be picked up by federal immigration officers.

However, as Patch reported, the Middlesex County Board of Freeholders voted in June of 2017 to refuse to honor ICE’s two-day hold orders unless the person has been convicted of a first- or second-degree serious offense, or was the subject of a final order of deportation signed by a federal judge. Those most serious offenses include murder, drug distribution, carjacking and sex assault.

Middlesex County is the first — and so far, only — county in New Jersey to refuse such requests, although the city of Newark has a similar policy and they’ve also been the subject of ICE’s ire.

“Middlesex County, which aspires to be a ‘sanctuary county’ by protecting criminal aliens, in the process assists criminals in undermining federal law,” said Ruben Perez, acting ICE Field Office Director in Newark. “It creates a dangerous environment in the community. It also overburdens local law enforcement. ICE will continue to execute its mission in such communities.”

It’s a policy ushered in by the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, under Freeholder Director Ronald Rios. Rios has never returned Patch’s repeated attempts to contact him, and he didn’t get back to us this Monday, either. But this past January, speaking at a public freeholder meeting, he insisted Middlesex was not a “sanctuary county.” Rios said the county jail will cooperate with federal immigration officials under specific circumstances, such as those mentioned above.

This is not a new problem: In October of last year, ICE arrested 36 alleged criminal aliens released by the Middlesex County jail, nearly all of whom had detainer requests issued for them that the jail chose to ignore. When running for governor last fall, Kim Guadagno harshly criticized the Middlesex County jail for its policy.

“Those are the types of people that get released back out into our communities when you declare yourself a sanctuary city, when you declare yourself a county that’s willing to violate federal law by not detaining individuals who have been lawfully charged with immigration offenses,” Guadagno said at a press conference in Sayreville last year while seeking the governor’s office.

In 2009, Middlesex County freeholders voted to end a $6 million contract with the federal government to house immigrant detainees at the county jail. Freeholders at the time said county corrections officers should not be asked to work as immigration agents. Meanwhile, Hudson, Essex and Bergen counties are receiving millions under the Trump administration to house ICE detainees in their local jails.

Middlesex County Jail Warden Mark Cranston has never returned Patch’s attempts to talk to him about the policy. Patch was told by multiple police officers that local Middlesex County law enforcement does not like the jail’s policy, to they extent they even know about it.

The Middlesex County jail is located in North Brunswick.

ICE’s charges that Middlesex is a sanctuary county are simply not true, Middlesex County’s official spokeswoman, Stacey Bersani, told Patch.

“To the contrary, Middlesex County has adopted a policy, which provides that the county will honor a detainer request from ICE if the inmate has previously been convicted of a first- or second-degree offense or was the subject of a Final Order of Deportation signed by a federal judge,” she said.

“ICE representatives have been repeatedly advised that (Middlesex County) will honor every order issued by a federal judge to detain an inmate,” she continued. “ICE has the legal authority and the resources to secure such orders from a federal judge with regard to any inmate in the county’s custody it seeks to detain or deport, but has chosen not to seek such orders.”

According to ICE, here are the 16 people released by the Middlesex County jail, only to be picked up last week by ICE:

• A 68-year-old citizen of Mexico was arrested by the Perth Amboy Police Department on January 23, 2009, in Middlesex County for the crimes of murder and hindering prosecution, plus giving false information. He was booked into the Middlesex County Jail. On June 14, 2011, he was convicted of aggravated manslaughter and hinder own prosecution-false info and was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment in state prison. On May 5, 2015, the subject was transferred from state prison back to the custody of the Middlesex County Jail as he appealed his convictions. On May 5, 2015, ICE issued a detainer to Middlesex County Jail. On May 22, 2018, the original charge was overturned and he was found guilty of a single felony charge of hindering-oneself-give false information and sentenced to time served. Even though an ICE detainer was previously issued, he was released.
• A 21-year-old citizen of Turkey was arrested by the South Brunswick Police Department on May 10, 2017, in Middlesex County for burglary entering structure and theft by unlawful taking, and was booked into Middlesex County Jail. On May 10, 2017, ICE issued a detainer, but the detainer was not honored and he was released. On July 15, 2017, he was arrested for resisting arrest, obstructing the administration of law, and possession of marijuana. On October 12, 2017, he was arrested by ICE officers in Monmouth Junction, New Jersey and was subsequently released on bond by the Immigration Judge. On April 12, 2018, he was arrested for a third time for simple assault, harassment, and possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, and was booked into the Middlesex County Jail. On April 13, 2018, ICE issued a detainer, but the detainer was not honored again and he was released.
• A 32-year-old citizen of Mexico was arrested by the New Brunswick Police Department on August 12, 2016, in Middlesex County for Aggravated Sexual Assault- Helpless Victim, Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact, Sexual Assault-Force/Coercion, and Criminal Sexual Contact and booked into the Middlesex County Jail. On August 16, 2016, ICE issued a detainer. On May 18, 2018, he was convicted of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Contact and sentenced to 644 days’ time served, parole supervision for life and registration under Megan’s Law. On May 21, 2018, Middlesex County Jail refused to honor the detainer and he was released.
• A 26-year-old citizen of Mexico was arrested by the North Brunswick Police Department on February 17, 2017, in Middlesex County for driving while his license was suspended and on his court date of May 23, 2017, he was found guilty and sentenced to ten (10) days of incarceration at the Middlesex County Jail. On May 31, 2017, ICE issued a detainer, but the detainer was not honored and he was released. He also had a prior conviction for DUI.
• A 46-year-old citizen of Mexico was arrested by the Carteret Police Department on December 15, 2017, in Middlesex County for domestic violence/simple assault and booked into the Middlesex County Jail. On December 25, 2017, ICE issued a detainer, but the detainer was not honored by Middlesex County Jail and he was released. On June 28, 2018, he was convicted of Domestic Violence Assault.
• A 34-year-old citizen of Mexico was arrested by the Edison Police Department on May 29, 2018, in Middlesex County for aggravated assault and possession of a weapon and booked into the Middlesex County Jail. On May 30, 2018, ICE issued a detainer, but the detainer was not honored and he was released.
• A 42-year-old citizen of Honduras was convicted of illegal entry on November 10, 2009, and removed. On June 12, 2017, she was arrested by the Woodbridge Police Department, in Middlesex County for shoplifting, and released. On March 11, 2018, she was again arrested for shoplifting, and released. On April 21, 2018, she was arrested for a third time for shoplifting, and booked into Middlesex County Jail. On April 21, 2018, ICE issued a detainer, but the detainer was not honored and she was released.
• A 21-year-old citizen of Guatemala was arrested by the Green Brook Police Department on June 20, 2018, in Somerset County for driving under the influence of alcohol and by the Middlesex Police Department (later that same day) in Middlesex County, for burglary-entering structure, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and hindering oneself/ false information and was booked into Middlesex County Jail. On June 21, 2018, ICE issued a detainer, but the detainer was not honored by Middlesex County Jail and he was released.
• A 21-year-old citizen of Honduras was arrested by the New Brunswick Police Department on May 29, 2018, in Middlesex County for aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and booked into the Middlesex County Jail. On May 29, 2018, ICE issued a detainer, but he was released.
• A 37-year-old citizen of Mexico was arrested by the New Brunswick Police Department on November 25, 2017, in Middlesex County for driving without a license, and booked into the Middlesex County Correctional Facility in North Brunswick, NJ. On November 25, 2017, an ICE detainer was issued but he was released.
• A 25-year-old citizen of the Dominican Republic was arrested by the Perth Amboy Police Department on May 25, 2018, in Middlesex County for harassment, hindering, and obstruction, and was booked into Middlesex County Jail. On May 29, 2018, ICE issued a detainer, but the detainer was not honored and he was released. He also has prior arrests for domestic violence and forgery.
• A 27-year-old citizen of the Dominican Republic was arrested by the Perth Amboy Police Department on January 25, 2018, in Middlesex County for aggravated assault – significant bodily injury to a victim of domestic violence, criminal restraint – hold victim, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon and booked into the Middlesex County Jail. On January 30, 2018, ICE issued a detainer, but the detainer was not honored and he was released.
• A 41-year-old citizen of Honduras was arrested by the New Brunswick Police Department on September 18, 2017, in Middlesex County for driving with a suspended license and was booked into the Middlesex County Jail. On September 18, 2017, ICE issued a detainer, but the detainer was not honored and he was released. Subject has prior arrests for forgery.
• A 29-year-old citizen of Mexico was arrested by the Perth Amboy Police Department on March 12, 2018, in Middlesex County for aggravated assault on law enforcement and possession of CDS/analog and booked into the Middlesex County Jail. On March 13, 2018, ICE issued a detainer, but the detainer was not honored and she was released. She has prior arrests for assault by auto and DUI.
• A 28-year-old citizen of Peru was arrested by the Union City Police Department in Union City, New Jersey on May 08, 2018, for simple assault and booked into the Hudson County Jail (HCJ). At the time of his release from HCJ, it was discovered that he had an outstanding warrant for contempt from the Perth Amboy Police Department, in Middlesex County. He was transferred to the Middlesex County Jail on the warrant. On May 15, 2018, ICE issued a detainer to Middlesex County Jail but the detainer was not honored and he was released.
• A 29-year-old citizen of El Salvador was arrested by the Carteret Police Department on September 1, 2017, in Middlesex County for Endangering-Abuse/Neglect of a Child and booked into the Middlesex County Jail. On September 5, 2017, ICE issued a detainer, but the detainer was not honored and he was released. After his release, he was arrested for DUI and subsequently convicted on March 15, 2018 for the same offense.

The 37 individuals arrested as part of the operation were nationals of Brazil, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Ivory Coast, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, and Turkey. All 37 will remain in ICE custody pending removal or immigration proceedings, IE said.

These individuals range from 21 to 68 years old and all were previously arrested or convicted of a variety of offenses. Some of the arrests and convictions included: aggravated criminal sexual contact, aggravated assault, DUI, hindering apprehension, endangering the welfare of a child, battery, theft, burglary, possession of a weapon, forgery, domestic violence assault, disorderly conduct and illegal entry.

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