Newark, NJ — Delaney Hall will have two more criminal aliens as guests today as protests continue in Newark.
Federal immigration agents arrested several people living in the United States illegally during a targeted operation in New Jersey on Wednesday, including a convicted child predator and a fugitive wanted for aggravated robbery in Peru, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The arrests mark a visible enforcement action by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New Jersey, a state that has frequently been at the center of national debates over immigration enforcement and cooperation between local governments and federal authorities.
The Department of Homeland Security announced the operation Thursday through social media, highlighting the criminal histories of two of the individuals taken into custody.
ICE Highlights Criminal Histories
According to DHS, one of those arrested was Joan Sebastian Acosta-Gacha, a Colombian national described by the agency as a “criminal illegal alien.”
DHS said Acosta-Gacha’s criminal history includes convictions for sexual exploitation of a minor, invasion of privacy, and possession of a stolen vehicle.
Federal officials also identified Jorge Luis Verastegui-Ramirez, a Peruvian national who DHS said is wanted in Peru on an international warrant for aggravated robbery.
According to the agency, Verastegui-Ramirez entered the United States illegally through Arizona in 2022.
Political Debate Reignites
The arrests immediately reignited the ongoing political dispute surrounding immigration enforcement in New Jersey and other jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
In its public statement, DHS criticized sanctuary policies and argued that local officials should work more closely with ICE.
“Sanctuary politicians should be thanking the brave men and women of ICE and cooperating with them to get criminals like these out of their communities,” the agency wrote in its announcement.
The operation comes amid heightened attention on immigration enforcement activities in New Jersey following recent demonstrations and protests surrounding federal immigration policies and detention operations.
Key Points
• ICE arrested several people living in the U.S. illegally during a targeted New Jersey operation.
• DHS identified one arrestee as a convicted sex offender and another as a fugitive wanted for aggravated robbery in Peru.
• Federal officials used the arrests to renew criticism of sanctuary policies.
DHS Focuses on Public Safety Argument
Federal immigration officials framed the operation as an example of their public safety mission, emphasizing the criminal allegations and convictions connected to the individuals highlighted in the announcement.
DHS specifically pointed to Acosta-Gacha’s convictions involving sexual exploitation of a minor and other offenses as evidence of the importance of immigration enforcement operations targeting individuals with criminal records.
The agency also highlighted the international warrant for Verastegui-Ramirez, describing the arrest as the removal of a fugitive sought by authorities in his home country.
While DHS announced that multiple arrests occurred during the operation, the agency did not immediately release additional information about the total number of people taken into custody or identify the other individuals involved.
Questions Remain About Operation Details
Federal officials have not yet released information about where in New Jersey the arrests occurred, whether the operation targeted specific individuals from the outset, or what immigration proceedings the detainees now face.
The announcement was distributed through DHS and shared by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Newark, the agency division responsible for immigration enforcement and removals across the region.
The department also used the announcement to criticize immigration policies implemented during the Biden administration.
Regarding Verastegui-Ramirez, DHS stated that he entered the country illegally through Arizona in 2022 and was later released. The agency cited that case as an example of what it views as failures in previous immigration enforcement policies.
No court documents or additional records related to the arrests were included in the agency’s public statement Thursday.
Enforcement Efforts Continue
The operation reflects ongoing ICE enforcement activity in New Jersey, where federal agents continue to conduct targeted arrests of individuals accused of violating immigration laws or who have criminal records.
Immigration enforcement remains one of the most politically divisive issues in the country, particularly in states and municipalities that have adopted policies limiting local participation in federal immigration actions.
Supporters of such policies argue they encourage trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement, while federal immigration officials contend that the policies can make it more difficult to locate and remove individuals accused or convicted of serious crimes.
For now, federal authorities say the individuals arrested during Wednesday’s operation remain in ICE custody or immigration proceedings. DHS has not announced additional arrests connected to the operation, and no further details were released about the status of the detainees as of Thursday.