More than 100 people were arrested by federal immigration authorities across Upstate New York in a recent operation.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and federal law enforcement partners arrested 133 people during the operation, which took place in late March. The operation focused on finding criminals in the country illegally and other people who violated immigration laws, according to ICE.
The operation focused on the Buffalo area, but extended throughout Upstate New York. A total of 84 people were arrested in the Buffalo and Rochester areas and another 49 people were arrested in the Syracuse, Albany, Rouses Point and Massena areas.
Of those arrested, 20 had criminal convictions or charges including three who were convicted of homicide, according to ICE. Nine of the arrests were of people who had been previously removed from the United States.
A total of 18 administrative arrests involved violations of immigration law, ICE said.
ICE’s statement on the arrests did not mention Jefferson County. But the operation it referenced took place during the same time frame that a mother and her three children were detained by immigration authorities during an investigation at a dairy farm near Sackets Harbor.
The mother and children were initially transferred out of state before being returned.
The three children were students in Sackets Harbor schools. Officials there pushed for their return.
Critics described the removal of the mother and children as “cruel” and “horrifying.”
Over 1,000 people attended a rally in Sackets Harbor in support of the family on Saturday. The group gathered near the Sackets Harbor home of President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan.
ICE agents have been knocking on doors in communities across Upstate New York since Trump’s inauguration in January. Trump promised an immigration crackdown repeatedly during his campaign.
Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
Ad Choices