NEW YORK –
Officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and
Removal Operations (ERO) arrested 32 convicted sexual predators during a
10-day period, ending Aug. 3 in Long Island in an enforcement effort dubbed,
“Operation SOAR” (Sex Offender Alien Removal).
In the course of
Operation SOAR, ERO officers apprehended 32 individuals with past criminal
convictions ranging from sexual abuse to attempted rape. Of those
arrested, 12 are registered sexual offenders. Each was taken into custody
and is currently being detained pending the completion of removal proceedings.
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"ICE’s
continuing commitment to making our communities safer is underscored by
operations like this one targeting sexual offenders. These actions focus our
resources on the most egregious criminals and promote public safety in the
communities in which we live and work,” said Thomas R. Decker, field office
director for New York. “ERO officers are out there every day enforcing
immigration law with targeted enforcement actions. ICE will not waiver in
its promise to arrest and remove criminal aliens from our neighborhoods.”
Among those
arrested were:
- A 24-year-old Salvadoran national
who was arrested and charged criminally with first degree sexual abuse and
sexual contact with a victim less than 11 years old. Criminal
charges are still pending. The victim in this case is a 4-year-old
female. He was arrested in Wyandanch, Aug. 3 and will remain in ICE
custody pending removal from the United States.
-
A 36-year-old national of
Guatemala with a prior conviction of second degree rape and endangering
the welfare of a child. The victim in this case was a 13 year old
female. He was sentenced to six months in jail and 10 years of
probation supervision. The registered
Level 1 sexual offender was arrested in Brentwood on Aug. 2 and will
remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
- A 32-year-old Honduran man with
prior convictions of criminal sexual act in the third degree, forcible
touching, endangering the welfare of a child, and sexual abuse in the
third degree. He was sentenced to 10 years of probation supervision.
The victim in this case was a 15 year-old female. He also has
prior convictions of driving while intoxicated. This registered
Level 1 sex offender was arrested in Brentwood, Aug. 1 and will remain in
ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
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A 38-year-old citizen and national
of Ecuador with a prior conviction of the sexual misconduct with a
15 year-old female victim. He was arrested in Central Islip, Aug. 1 and
will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
-
A 55-year-old Salvadoran man convicted of second degree
rape and sentenced to one year in jail. The victim in this case was 12
years old. He was arrested in Copiague, July
27 and will remain in ICE custody pending removal from the United
States.
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A 21 year-old Haitian man with a prior conviction of
two counts of promote a sexual performance by a child less than 17 years
of age and sentenced to 10 years of probation supervision. The victims in
this case were both 15 years of age. He was arrested in Riverhead, July 27 and will
remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
- A 36-year-old Salvadoran man convicted of third degree
rape and sentenced to 10 years of probation supervision. The victim in
this case was 15 years old. He was arrested in Glen Cove, July 25 and will
remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
- A 46-year-old Salvadoran national
with a prior conviction of endangering the welfare of a child - sentenced
to three years’ probation. The original charge was sexual abuse in the
first degree: sexual contact with individual less than 11 years old. The
victim in this case was 7 years old. He was arrested in Mineola,
July 25, and will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
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A 45-year-old citizen of Trinidad
and Tobago convicted of third degree rape of a victim incapable of consent
and sentenced to 5 years of probation supervision. This Level 1 sex
offender was arrested in East Hampton, July 29 and will
remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
Criminal histories
of those arrested during the operation are as follows: acting in a manner to
injure a child, assault, third degree attempted rape, burglary, attempted
sexual abuse, criminal sex act, endangering the welfare of a child, endangering
the welfare of a physically disabled person, forcible touching, promoting
a sexual performance by a child, public lewdness, first degree rape, second
degree rape, third degree rape, reckless endangerment, first degree sexual
abuse, second degree sexual abuse, sexual abuse:, forcible compulsion, sexual
contact with an individual incapable of consent, and sexual misconduct.
The arrestees
include nationals from the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala,
Haiti, Honduras, India, Mexico, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago.
ERO deportation
officers made arrests throughout Long Island, specifically in Nassau
County: East Meadow, Franklin Square, Garden City, Glen Cove, Mineola
Port Washington, Roosevelt, Uniondale, Westbury; and in Suffolk County:
Amityville, Bayshore, Brentwood, Central Islip, Copiague, Deer Park, East
Hampton, Hampton Bays, Islip, Islip Terrace, Riverhead, Wyandanch, Yaphank.
The foreign
nationals arrested will be processed administratively for removal from the
United States. The arrestees who have outstanding orders of deportation,
or who returned to the United States illegally after being deported, are subject
to immediate removal from the country. The remaining individuals are in ICE
custody awaiting a hearing before an immigration judge, or pending travel
arrangements for removal in the near future.
ICE deportation
officers carry out targeted enforcement operations every day in locations
around the country as part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to protect the
nation, uphold public safety, and protect the integrity of our immigration laws
and border controls. These operations involve existing, established Fugitive
Operations Teams.
During such
enforcement operations ICE officers frequently encounter additional suspects
who may be in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws. Those
persons will be evaluated on a case by case basis and, when appropriate,
arrested by ICE.
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