Sanctuary directive not enough to protect mexican murderer in new jersey

NEWARK, N.J. —Federal agents waited at the door for a Mexican national who came to New Jersey Illegally in 1991 and was convicted of aggravated manslaughter six years later. Not taking any chances after a directive that makes New Jersey a sanctuary state for illegals, ICE agents took the man directly from prison to Newark Airport after he served his sentence and was released. They were even kind enough to send us a photo of the convicted illegal alien getting on the plane.

ICE reports…

A 63-year-old Mexican national wanted in his home country for murder was removed from the U.S. Tuesday by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and turned over to Mexican law enforcement authorities.

Betancourt entered the U.S. illegally near San Ysidro, California, in 1991. He was convicted of aggravated manslaughter in 1997 in New Jersey and sentenced to 25 years of incarceration.

On Oct. 12, the New Jersey Department of Corrections released Betancourt into ERO Newark custody. ERO Newark transferred Betancourt to the Essex County Jail.

On Nov. 28, an immigration judge ordered Betancourt removed from the United States to Mexico and on Dec. 18, he was removed to Mexico and transferred to Mexican law enforcement authorities, where he is wanted for murder.

“This individual’s illegal immigration history, along with his aggravated manslaughter conviction, shows that he is a dangerous criminals who warranted removal from his community and the U.S.,” said John Tsoukaris, field office director of ERO Newark.

ICE removed or returned 256,085 aliens in fiscal year 2018. The proportion of FY18 removals resulting from ICE arrests increased by nearly seventeen percent over the previous fiscal year, and the number of ICE interior removals in FY18 increased by nearly 14,000 from FY17.

ICE is focused on removing public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members, as well as individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws, including those who illegally re-entered the country after being removed and immigration fugitives ordered removed by federal immigration judges.

Featured

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.