PHILADELPHIA, United States (CMC) — Two Jamaicans and other Caribbean people are among 49 foreign nationals arrested over the last seven days during what United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency describes as “a targeted enforcement operation.”
ICE said that the sweep, which ended Sunday, was aimed at criminal aliens, immigration fugitives, re-entrants, and other immigration violators.
ICE said, on May 14, officers arrested a 40-year-old, previously deported Jamaican man, in Philadelphia.
He was arrested after a bench warrant was issued for his arrest and charged with presenting false identification to law enforcement.
ICE said the Jamaican has a conviction for possession with intent to distribute marijuana for which he was sentenced to 37 months incarceration.
“He will be served with a notice to reinstate prior removal order and his case has been presented to the United States Attorney’s Office for possible prosecution. He will remain in ICE custody pending removal.”
ICE said they had also arrested a 27-year-old Jamaican man who had been convicted for possession of firearms in Philadelphia.
“He will remain in ICE custody without bond pending immigration proceedings,” ICE said, adding that a 26-year-old Haitian had also been arrested after being convicted in the Common Pleas Court at Philadelphia, of robbery, possession of an instrument of crime, simple assault, and criminal attempt-theft by unlawful taking.
He was sentenced to a maximum of 23 months confinement.
ICE said the other Caribbean nationals apprehended are from the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
The immigration enforcement agency said 17 of those arrested had criminal convictions; 14 have pending criminal charges; and six had been previously removed from the United States and subsequently illegally re-entered.
ICE also said 14 were immigration fugitives with outstanding final orders of removal issued by a US federal immigration judge; and 14 of those arrested were previously released from Philadelphia County custody, despite having an ICE detainer lodged against them.
“This operation resulted in multiple arrests of criminal aliens, public safety threats, and individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws,” said Philadelphia Acting Field Office Director Gregory Brawley.
