ICE Arrests One Of Its ’10 Most Wanted’ In NJ – Patch.com

CLIFFSIDE PARK, NJ — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials arrested one of the organization’s 10 most wanted fugitives in New Jersey, ICE officials announced.

Anibal Garcia-Jerez was arrested by ICE and Enforcement and Removal Operations in Cliffside Park on Wednesday. He was convicted of felony endangerment of a child for photographing or filming a child “in a prohibited sex act,” according to ICE.

Garcia-Jerez served time in Bergen County Jail, but was “ordered removed to Guatemala” in October 2018.

He later re-entered the country, ICE officials said, making him an ICE fugitive. Garcia-Jerez also had outstanding warrants for a parole violation and failing to register as a sex offender, officials added.

He was considered an ICE enforcement priority due to his aggravated felony history, ICE said.

“This is a clear case of an individual who, in addition to reentering the United States after being removed, poses a clear danger to the community, particularly our most vulnerable citizens: children,” said Field Officer Director John Tsoukaris, of ERO Newark.

The arrest was one of the most significant ICE actions since last fall, when nearly 80 people were arrested in a big statewide ICE bust that involved more than 15 towns in 16 New Jersey counties.

That bust targeted those with arrests or convictions for homicide, sex assault, domestic violence or other crimes. Those arrested ranged from age 19 to 63 years old and most were previously convicted of violent offenses, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

Some of the convictions included homicide, sexual assault on a minor, criminal sexual contact, child fondling, possession of marijuana, DUI, fraud, possession of a weapon, aggravated assault, resisting arrest, larceny, rioting, public order crimes, robbery, burglary and illegal reentry, according to an ICE release.

Those arrested also included a Peruvian national who was in the country illegally and has an Interpol warrant for aggravated robbery, according to ICE.

“The remarkable results of our officers and law enforcement partners highlight ICE’s ongoing commitment to public safety,” said John Tsoukaris, field office director of ERO Newark. “This enforcement action focused on targeting individuals who have been arrested or convicted of crimes involving victims as well as those who pose a risk to public safety.

“Because of the targeted efforts of these professional officers, there are fewer criminals in our communities.”

These individuals were arrested in the following counties in New Jersey: Atlantic (1), Bergen (7), Burlington (8), Camden (3), Cumberland (3), Essex (5), Hudson (3), Mercer (7), Middlesex (6), Monmouth (6), Morris (1), Ocean (6), Passaic (7), Somerset (3), Union (10), and Warren (1).

Read more: 77 Arrested In More Than 15 NJ Towns In Big Statewide ICE Bust

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