Forty-four individuals, inclusive of Guyanese nationals, convicted of crimes against children were arrested in New Jersey during the U.S government’s “Crimes against Children” operation held between April 4 and April 8 this year.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Newark Field Office executed this operation recently as part of the agency’s public safety efforts.
According to a release from the U.S agency, the persons arrested were nationals of Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, England, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
“All of the targets in this operation met the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) highest immigration enforcement priorities as established in DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson’s 2014 memorandum. The operation netted a total of 44 arrests of individuals convicted of crimes against children…these individuals range from age 19 to 61 years old and all were previously convicted of a variety of offenses. Some of the convictions included sexual abuse of a minor, criminal sexual contact of a child, luring or enticing a child, endangering the welfare of a child, sexual assault of a minor, child abuse, child neglect and indecent exposure,” it said.
It was not stated how many Guyanese are among those arrested. INews understands that this initiative in nabbing these perpetrators underscore the ICE’s ongoing commitment to public safety and, as part of the operation, specific focus was placed on the arrest of persons who took advantage of children.
It should be noted that among those arrested during this operation are a Haitian citizen convicted of criminal sexual contact against a child and endangering the welfare of a child; an Ecuadorian citizen convicted of luring or enticing a child, and endangering the welfare of a child; and a Guatemalan citizen convicted of criminal sexual contact on a child.
Meanwhile, a Cuban national convicted of three counts of sexual assault of a minor has also been arrested.
The ICE is focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that targets serious criminal aliens who present the greatest risk to the security of the communities in the U.S, such as those charged with or convicted of homicide, rape, robbery, kidnapping, major drug offenses and threats to national security.
