Thirty two gang members and associates arrested by ICE and local law enforcement partners NEWARK , NJ - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents working, with several New Jersey law enforcement agencies, arrested 32 gang members and associates today in the Butler and Bloomingdale area.

Twelve of those arrested are violent gang members from Mexico, some

with criminal records which include aggravated assault, robbery and

domestic violence. One of the gang members was previously convicted

for assaulting a pregnant female.

All 32 individuals have been charged with administrative immigration

violations.

"ICE remains committed to bringing transnational gang members to

justice - here in New Jersey or wherever they threaten our citizens.

With the arrest of these 32 gang members and associates, the impact on

public safety is undeniable," said Matthew J. Etre, acting special

agent in charge, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Newark.

ICE partnered with the Butler Police Department, Bloomingdale Police

Department, Morris County Park Police and Passaic County Prosecutor's

Office during the operation. ICE targets all transnational criminal

street gangs that endanger our communities and pose a potential threat

to national security. The multi-agency operation resulted in the

seizure of gang paraphernalia and approximately $10,000.

"The Borough of Bloomingdale has certainly experienced its share of

the problems associated with criminal street gangs. The cooperation

and assistance afforded by ICE has been extremely valuable," said

Detective Sergeant Steve Caputo.

"Butler Police assisted and cooperated with ICE in their law

enforcement duties on immigration and illegal aliens to prevent and

deter those suspected of gang activity, and to disrupt their ability

to possibly engage in criminal matters, all which can affect the

community," said Butler Police Chief Edward Card.

These enforcement actions are part of ICE's Operation Community

Shield, which involves strong partnerships and cooperation with

existing federal, state and local anti-gang efforts. ICE uses

intelligence on gang organizations and leadership provided by state

and local authorities. This information is used whenever possible to

arrest, prosecute, and/or deport individual gang members.

Earlier this year, in June, agents from the ICE Office of the Special

Agent in Charge, Newark, NJ, along with the Hudson County Prosecutor's

Office, Union City Police Department and West New York Police

Department, conducted an enforcement operation in the Hudson County,

New Jersey area, which resulted in the arrests of 39 violent gang

members.

Nationally, together with our federal, state and local partners, ICE

agents have arrested more than 11,400 known gang members and

associates, representing hundreds of criminal gangs. Many of those

arrested have violent criminal histories with convictions for murder,

robbery, rape and assault. In New Jersey more than 250 violent gang

members and their associates have been arrested by ICE this year.

To report suspicious activity, members of the public should call the

ICE at 1-866-DHS-2ICE.

-- ICE --