Murder suspect among two arrested in new jersey immigration sweep

MAHWAH, N.J. — Two men were taken into custody in northern New Jersey during a coordinated immigration enforcement operation involving the FBI’s Newark Field Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Mahwah Police Department, officials confirmed.

Both were hiding out in New Jersey, a state recognized by Governor Phil Murphy as an immigration sanctuary state.

One of the individuals arrested is wanted in connection with a homicide case in Colombia, according to authorities. That suspect had an outstanding international arrest warrant and was located during targeted enforcement actions in Mahwah, a township in Bergen County.

Their names were not released at this time.

The arrests are part of a broader national effort by federal agencies to locate and apprehend individuals who may pose a threat to public safety or are in violation of U.S. immigration laws.

The second man, also taken into custody during the same operation, was detained on unrelated immigration charges. Both individuals are now in federal custody, pending further legal proceedings.

The FBI and ICE have not disclosed the names of the individuals due to the ongoing nature of the investigation and extradition considerations. Colombian authorities are reportedly coordinating with U.S. officials regarding the murder suspect’s return.

“Federal and local partnerships are critical to protecting our communities and ensuring justice across borders,” a law enforcement official involved in the operation said.

The arrests took place as part of a nationwide series of immigration enforcement actions that have intensified in recent weeks, federal authorities confirmed.

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.