About a dozen suspected gang members in northern Hudson County accused of violent crimes and being in the country illegally were recently arrested with the help of local police in an ongoing federal investigation in New Jersey.
Led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Newark, the operation, dubbed “Community Shield,” resulted in 46 arrests statewide, including 42 gang members and four associates. Thirty-three of those apprehended will face deportation hearings.
“We will exhaust all means to find these people.” – Brian Barrett
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“We identified individuals within our community who are known, validated, criminal street gang members who have committed crimes and are also illegal aliens,” said Union City Police Captain Brian Barrett.
On June 10 at 5 a.m., local forces, along side ICE agents and the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, started a sweep that lasted five hours.
Though several arrests were made in both towns and neighboring municipalities, authorities are still looking for some of the suspects.
“We will exhaust all means to find these people,” said Barrett. When they are found, he said, ICE will take them into custody and some may face deportation.
“Each one has a right to a deportation hearing,” said Barrett, “and whatever the results of those hearings are, that’s what will happen to them.”
He said he was pleased with the outcome of the investigation, as many of the gang members are responsible for robberies, assaults, and similar offenses. Getting them off the streets, said Barrett, will improve the quality of life in Union City and other local towns.
“If they are committing a large amount of crimes against people, by removing them, we will decrease the number of people being victimized,” he said.
Union City, he said, consistently combats gangs by educating youth about the dangers and consequences of membership, suppressing activity that has the potential to lead to crime, and working with outside law enforcement agencies to share information.
This particular initiative, however, had a distinct focus.
“This was narrowly targeted at illegal aliens who are criminal street gang members who commit crimes in our community,” said Barrett. It was not meant to investigate immigration status on a broad scale, he said, and illegal aliens who are not committing crimes will not be targeted.
“People have no reason to fear law enforcement unless they themselves are committing crimes,” said Barrett. “We can’t have people, any member of our community, regardless of their status, to be afraid of police.”
The statewide investigation ended June 20.
Amanda Staab can be reached at astaab@hudsonreporter.com.