NEW YORK, NY — A Dominican national with a prior felony conviction and an arrest record has been taken into custody by federal immigration authorities in New York City, officials confirmed.

Modesto Arias-Soto, 35, was arrested by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on April 9. Arias-Soto is unlawfully present in the United States and has a criminal history that includes a conviction for conspiracy to distribute narcotics and an arrest for tampering with public records.

ICE officials stated that Arias-Soto’s arrest is part of ongoing enforcement efforts targeting individuals with criminal backgrounds who are in the country without legal status.

His prior drug conviction involved conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, though details on the case and sentencing have not been released. The public records tampering arrest remains under investigation.

Arias-Soto is currently in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.