Mexican National Taken Into Custody by ICE Buffalo Agents for Immigration Violation

Ithaca, N.Y. (GBBC) – 

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents say the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office out of Ithaca refused to honor a federal arrest warrant against a 27-year-old Mexican citizen, who has been removed several times for illegally entering the country.

Jesus Romero Hernandez was arrested in Ithaca on Jan. 30 by ICE Buffalo officials after the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office released him from custody following the issuing of a federal arrest warrant against him.

Romero was previously removed from the United States six times between July and September 2016, being convicted once in Texas of illegal re-entry on one of those occasions and sentenced him to time served.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York charged Romero last year with illegally re-entering the United States after a prior removal.

In a recent operation, agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Buffalo have apprehended a Mexican national who was residing in the United States illegally. This arrest highlights the ongoing efforts by ICE to enforce immigration laws and maintain border security in the region.

The arrest took place after ICE agents were able to confirm that the individual, whose identity has not been publicly released, was living in the U.S. without proper authorization. The individual, a Mexican national, had entered the country unlawfully and had been residing in the Buffalo area. The arrest came as part of ICE’s continuous efforts to identify and apprehend individuals who are violating U.S. immigration laws.

The operation, which took place within the scope of ICE’s larger enforcement mission, is part of the agency’s focus on identifying and removing individuals who present a risk to public safety, national security, or who have violated immigration laws. In this case, the individual was detained by ICE agents and is now facing legal proceedings related to their immigration status.

ICE’s Role and Immigration Enforcement

ICE plays a crucial role in the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws, including investigating individuals who may be residing in the country without legal authorization. ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division focuses on removing individuals who are in the U.S. unlawfully, particularly those with criminal records or those who have overstayed their visas.

The agency also focuses on detaining individuals who have previously been deported or have been convicted of serious criminal offenses, including drug trafficking, violent crimes, or other violations. ICE is committed to ensuring that individuals who pose a threat to national security, public safety, or border integrity are held accountable.

In Buffalo and surrounding areas, local law enforcement often works in collaboration with ICE to carry out immigration-related operations. These coordinated efforts are critical to maintaining the safety and security of the community, as well as ensuring compliance with federal immigration laws. While these arrests are often met with mixed reactions, they serve as a reminder of the importance of upholding immigration regulations.

As the immigration debate continues to be a contentious issue across the U.S., operations like this one are closely watched by both proponents and critics of stricter immigration enforcement. Supporters argue that these actions are necessary to ensure that individuals who enter the U.S. unlawfully are held accountable, while opponents raise concerns about the impact of such actions on families and communities.

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Following the arrest, the Mexican national is expected to go through the legal process for immigration violations. This could include a deportation hearing, where an immigration judge will determine whether the individual should be allowed to remain in the U.S. or be deported back to Mexico. Depending on the circumstances, the individual may face additional legal consequences, including penalties for unlawfully entering or remaining in the U.S.

ICE will continue to monitor and enforce immigration laws in the region, working in collaboration with other federal, state, and local agencies to ensure that individuals who violate immigration laws are detained and processed accordingly.

This recent arrest serves as another example of ICE’s commitment to enforcing U.S. immigration laws and maintaining national security. While the debate around immigration enforcement remains complex and highly charged, agencies like ICE are tasked with carrying out federal immigration policy to the best of their ability. This particular operation in Buffalo underscores the agency’s ongoing efforts to uphold immigration laws and safeguard public safety in communities across the nation.

Because Romero was then in the custody of the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, awaiting resolution of New York State assault charges, ICE provided a copy of a federal arrest warrant, signed by a U.S. magistrate judge, to the sheriff’s office.

ICE says that office refused to honor the federal arrest warrant and released Romero.

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