Ice newark arrests guatemalan national convicted of child neglect in nj

ICE Newark arrests Guatemalan national convicted of child neglect in NJ

by
March 31, 2026
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Federal immigration agents detain Mercer County defendant pending removal proceedings

Newark, NJ – Federal immigration authorities have arrested a Guatemalan national in New Jersey following a recent criminal conviction involving child neglect, officials said. The arrest was carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Newark field office.

Raul Lopez Santiago was taken into custody on March 17, according to ICE. Authorities said he is in the United States without legal status and has a prior conviction in Mercer County.

ICE officials stated that Lopez Santiago was convicted on February 6 in Superior Court in Mercer County on charges of cruelty and neglect of children.

Detained pending immigration proceedings

Following his arrest, Lopez Santiago was placed into ICE custody, where he remains as removal proceedings move forward.

Key Points

  • ICE Newark arrested Raul Lopez Santiago on March 17
  • Convicted Feb. 6 in Mercer County of child cruelty and neglect
  • Currently detained pending immigration removal proceedings

Officials said the arrest is part of ongoing enforcement efforts targeting individuals with criminal convictions.

ICE has not released additional details about the underlying case or timeline for immigration proceedings.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital news organization covering New Jersey, national politics, public policy, public safety, and community affairs. With years of experience reporting on local government, elections, law enforcement, and issues impacting residents throughout New Jersey, Stilton has built a reputation for delivering timely news, in-depth reporting, and accountability journalism.

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