ICE arrests 55 illegal aliens in New York after 42 released from local custody without honoring immigration detainers

A Guyanese national convicted of assault, criminal possession of a weapon and kidnapping is among the 55 foreign nationals arrested during a recently concluded six-day operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). ERO deportation officers in New York targeted at-large criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants, and immigration fugitives during the operation which ran from Monday, Nov. 13 to Monday, Nov. 20. Of those arrested, ICE had lodged detainers on 42 of the foreign nationals when they were in local law enforcement custody, and they were all released without the detainers being honored. Ten were immigration fugitives or were previously removed from the U.S.

Some of the individuals arrested during the enforcement action will be presented for federal prosecution for re-entry after deportation, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Those not being criminally prosecuted will be processed for removal from the country. Individuals 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.

“ERO deportation officers are committed to enforcing the immigration laws set forth by our legislators,” said Thomas Decker, field office director for ERO New York. “Forty-two of the 55 arrested during this operation were released from New York custody with an active detainer, which poses an increased risk to the officers and the community. It is important for city residents to know that although the City of New York releases inmates with active ICE detainers back into their community, ICE will be diligent in its responsibility to find those who come to the United States to prey upon our communities and ultimately have them removed from the country.”

Although Kings and Queens counties accounted for the largest number of arrests during the operation, ERO deportation officers conducted enforcement actions in all boroughs of New York City, and Putnam and Westchester counties.

Those arrested includes:

Cedric Marston, 41, a previously removed Jamaican citizen, was arrested by ERO deportation officers in Jamaica, New York, Nov. 20, for immigration violations. Marstonwas previously removed to Jamaica by the legacy Immigration and Naturalization Service March 26, 1999, following a California felony conviction for possession of concentrated cannabis, for which he was sentenced to three years of probation. On May 2, 2017, Marstonwas arrested by the New York Police Department (NYPD) on local charges. On that same date, ERO deportation officers lodged an immigration detainer with the NYPD’s Queens Central Booking, however, Marston was released from NYPD custody, without the detainer being honored and without notification to ICE. Marston has criminal histories in California, Georgia and New York, and has prior felony convictions for criminal possession of a controlled substance and falsifying business records, in addition to numerous misdemeanor convictions. He is currently detained in ICE custody. An alien who re-enters the United States after having been previously deported is a federal felony charge punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison, if convicted.

Dane John, 35, a Guyanese citizen, was arrested by the NYPD June 9, 2017, on local charges. On that same date, ERO deportation officers lodged an immigration detainer with the NYPD’s Brooklyn Central Booking. On June 10, 2017, John was released from NYPD custody without the detainer being honored and without notification to ICE. On October 16, 2017, the NYPD arrested John again on local charges. On that same date, ERO deportation officers lodged an immigration detainer with the NYPD’s Queens Central Booking. John was later released from NYPD custody without the detainer being honored and without notification to ICE. John has an extensive criminal history, with prior convictions for kidnapping in the 2nddegree, criminal possession of a weapon in the 2nd degree (loaded firearm), and assault in the 2nd degree (intent to cause physical injury with a weapon), for which he served seven years in prison. On Nov. 14, ERO deportation officers arrested John in Brooklyn, New York, on immigration violations, and he was issued an administrative removal order. He is currently detained in ICE custody, pending a removal to Guyana.

Hector Norales-Chavez, 20, a Honduran citizen, who was released from New York City custody on three separate occasions since May 2017, and has 18 pending criminal charges. He was arrested by ERO deportation officers Nov. 15, 2017, in Bronx, New York, on immigration violations. On May 23, 2017, Norales-Chavez was arrested by the NYPD on local charges. On May 24, 2017, ERO deportation officers lodged an immigration detainer with the NYPD’s Bronx Central Booking, however, Norales-Chavez was released from NYPD custody without the detainer being honored and without notification to ICE. On Aug. 7, 2017, Norales-Chavez was arrested by the NYPD on local charges. On that same date, ERO deportation officers lodged an immigration detainer with the NYPD’s Bronx Central Booking, and again Norales-Chavez was released from NYPD custody without the detainer being honored and without notification to ICE. On Oct. 6, 2017, Norales-Chavez was arrested by the NYPD on local charges. On that same date, ERO deportation officers lodged an immigration detainer with the NYPD’s Bronx Central Booking, and again, Norales-Chavez was released from NYPD custody without the detainer being honored and without notification to ICE. Norales-Chavez is currently detained in ICE custody, pending a removal hearing before an immigration judge.

Olivier Deverine, 44, a French citizen, who was released from New York City custody on three separate occasions since March 2017, was arrested by ERO deportation officers in Brooklyn on Nov. 20, 2017. Deverine was arrested by the NYPD March 29, 2017, on local charges. On that same date, ERO deportation officers lodged an immigration detainer with the NYPD’s Brooklyn Central Booking. On March 30, 2017, Deverine was released from NYPD custody without the detainer being honored and without notification to ICE. On May 11, 2017, Deverine was arrested by the NYPD on local charges, and ERO deportation officers lodged an immigration detainer with the NYPD’s Brooklyn Central Booking. Deverine was later released from NYPD custody without the detainer being honored and without notification to ICE. On Sept. 3, 2017, Deverine was arrested by the NYPD on local charges, and ERO deportation officers lodged an immigration detainer with the NYPD’s Brooklyn Central Booking. On Sept. 4, 2017, Deverine was released from NYPD custody without the detainer being honored and without notification to ICE. He is currently detained in ICE custody, pending removal to France.

Peter Macura, 28, a citizen of Slovakia, was arrested by the New York Police Department (NYPD) May 12, 2017, on local charges. On the same date, ERO deportation officers lodged an immigration detainer with the NYPD’s Queens Central Booking, however, Macura was released from NYPD custody without the detainer being honored and without notification to ICE. On July 30, 2017, the NYPD arrested Macura on local charges. On the same date, ERO deportation officers lodged an immigration detainer with the NYPD’s Manhattan Central Booking, however, Macurawas released from NYPD custody without the detainer being honored and without notification to ICE. On Nov. 13, 2017, ERO deportation officers arrested Macura in Manhattan on immigration violations. He is currently detained in ICE custody, pending removal to Slovakia.

This week-long enforcement operation was conducted in accordance with routine, daily targeted operations conducted by ICE field operations teams every day to arrest criminal aliens and other individuals who are in violation of our nation’s immigration laws. ICE deportation officers conduct 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.

ICE does not conduct sweeps, checkpoints or raids that target aliens indiscriminately. This operation targeted public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens, gang members, and individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws, including those who re-entered the country after being deported and immigration fugitives ordered deported by federal immigration judges. Reports to the contrary create panic and put communities and law enforcement personnel in unnecessary danger. Any groups falsely reporting such activities are doing a disservice to those they claim to support.

Those not being criminally prosecuted will be processed for removal from the United States. Those who have outstanding orders of deportation, or who returned to the United States illegally after being deported, are subject to removal from the country.

Detainers serve as a legally-authorized request, upon which a law enforcement agency may rely, to continue to maintain custody of an alien for up to 48 hours so that ICE may assume custody for removal purposes. Pursuant to ICE policy, all ICE detainers are submitted with an accompanying administrative arrest warrant or warrant of removal depending upon the circumstances of the individual case.