ERO New York City arrests previously removed Salvadoran citizen convicted of forcible touching of a child

NEW YORK — On Dec. 1, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) New York City arrested a previously removed Salvadoran citizen convicted by the Nassau County District Court of forcibly touching a 14-year-old victim in a sexual manner.

ERO New York City’s Long Island suboffice arrested the 29-year-old unlawfully present noncitizen without incident in Garden City and transported him to the Central Islip suboffice for processing. He will remain in custody pending removal proceedings.

“Not only has this noncitizen shown a flagrant disdain for our nation’s immigration laws, but also a complete disregard for New York State Criminal laws,” said ERO New York City Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo. “Protecting youth in New York will always be a priority for this office. We will use all of our resources to remove these dangerous criminals from our communities.”

The Salvadoran national entered the United States on an unknown date at an unknown location without being inspected, paroled or admitted by U.S. immigration officers.

On Oct. 10, 2012, U.S. Border Patrol arrested the noncitizen and issued him a notice and order of expedited removal, at which point he claimed fear of being removed to El Salvador. An asylum officer issued a record of negative credible fear finding and request for review by an immigration judge. On Dec. 3, 2012, an immigration judge affirmed the asylum officer's decision and the individual was removed via ICE Air to El Salvador on Dec. 20, 2012.

The Salvadoran national reentered the United States on an unknown date at an unknown location without being inspected, paroled or admitted by U.S. immigration officers.

Noncitizens placed into removal proceedings receive their legal due process from federal immigration judges in the immigration courts, which are administered by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). EOIR is an agency within the U.S. Department of Justice and is separate from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case. ICE officers carry out the removal decisions made by the federal immigration judges.

As one of ICE’s three operational directorates, ERO is the principal federal law enforcement authority in charge of domestic immigration enforcement. ERO’s mission is to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of U.S. communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws, and its primary areas of focus are interior enforcement operations, management of the agency’s detained and non-detained populations, and repatriation of noncitizens who have received final orders of removal. ERO’s workforce consists of more than 7,700 law enforcement and non-law enforcement support personnel across 25 domestic field offices and 208 locations nationwide, 30 overseas postings, and multiple temporary duty travel assignments along the border.

Members of the public can report crime and suspicious activity by calling 866-347-2423 or completing the online tip form.

Learn more about ERO New York City’s mission to preserve public safety on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ERONewYork.

Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE.gov)