Federal immigration authorities announced the arrest of several individuals with convictions for murder, child sexual abuse, rape, assault, and other serious offenses during targeted enforcement operations across the New York metropolitan area.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said its Fugitive Operations teams arrested multiple noncitizens with serious criminal histories during a recent enforcement initiative in the New York City region.
According to ICE, those taken into custody included individuals previously convicted of murder, rape, child sexual abuse, assault, and other violent offenses.
The agency said all of those arrested are currently being held pending immigration and removal proceedings.
Murder Convict Among Those Arrested
One of the individuals identified by ICE was Mosiah Wright, a Jamaican national who had previously been removed from the United States.
According to federal authorities, Wright was convicted of murder in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.
ICE said Wright also had prior arrests involving weapons violations, drug possession, resisting arrest, and probation violations.
Child Sex Abuse and Rape Convictions Cited
Federal officials also identified Jose Fuentes-Saravia, a Salvadoran national with a final order of removal.
ICE said Fuentes-Saravia was convicted in Suffolk County of sexually abusing a child younger than 11 years old.
Another individual, Vicente Mejia-Marquez of El Salvador, was convicted in Suffolk County of rape involving a victim under the age of 17, according to ICE.
Additional Offenders Taken Into Custody
Among the others arrested was Jose Israel Chapa Flores, an Ecuadorian national convicted in Suffolk County of forcible touching and acting in a manner injurious to a child.
Federal officials also identified Blas Alberto Diaz, a previously removed Salvadoran national convicted in Nassau County of sexual contact with a person incapable of consent.
Benjamin Quijada, another Salvadoran national, was arrested after previously being convicted of assault in Queens. ICE said he is also wanted in Maryland on allegations involving child abuse and sexual abuse of a minor.
Drug and Assault Histories Included
ICE also reported the arrest of Franklin Saul Banegas-Cevallos, a Honduran national who had previously been removed from the United States.
According to the agency, Banegas-Cevallos was convicted of attempted drug possession and currently faces a pending charge involving the attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance.
ICE Criticizes Sanctuary Policies
In announcing the arrests, ICE officials criticized New York’s sanctuary policies and argued that local cooperation with federal immigration authorities would improve public safety.
“Protecting New Yorkers from criminal illegal aliens will always be a priority for this office,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations New York Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo.
“We will never waver in our commitment to arrest criminal illegal aliens and remove them from our country,” Genalo added.
Immigration Proceedings Pending
ICE said all of the individuals arrested remain in federal custody while immigration proceedings continue.
The agency encouraged members of the public to report suspected criminal activity through its national tip line.
As with all legal matters, pending criminal allegations and immigration proceedings will be resolved through the appropriate courts and administrative processes.
Key Points
• ICE arrested several individuals in the New York City area with convictions involving murder, rape, child sexual abuse, assault, and drug offenses.
• Those arrested include previously removed individuals and others with final orders of removal, according to federal authorities.
• All remain in ICE custody pending immigration and removal proceedings.
