U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested 32 convicted sexual offenders on Long Island from July 25 to Aug. 3, the agency said.
The 10-day effort apprehended individuals with criminal convictions including sexual abuse and attempted rape, an ICE news release said. Twelve of those arrested are registered sexual offenders.
A 46-year-old Salvadoran man, who was convicted of endangering the welfare of a child after originally being charged with first-degree sexual abuse, was arrested in Mineola on July 25. The victim in the case was 7 years old.
ICE officers also made arrests in Port Washington.
“These actions focus our resources on the most egregious criminals and promote public safety in the communities in which we live and work,” Thomas R. Decker, field office director for New York, said.
Individuals detained included nationals from the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Mexico, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago.
An agency spokeswoman said not all of those detained were in the U.S. illegally, but those who are permanent residents are subject to deportation because of criminal convictions, according to Newsday.
Efforts to reach ICE officials were unavailing.
State Sen. Elaine Phillips (R-Flower Hill) commended the efforts of the enforcement officials.
“We must continue to rid our community of sexual predators who commit these heinous crimes to ensure a better quality of life for all Long Islanders,” she said. “I am committed to working with law enforcement officials and my fellow lawmakers to assist in keeping neighborhoods safe and criminals off the street.”
Those apprehended were detained pending the completion of removal proceedings. Those who have outstanding orders of deportation, or who returned to the United States illegally after being deported, are subject to immediate removal from the country.
The criminal histories of those arrested included acting in a manner to injure a child, assault, third-degree attempted rape, burglary, attempted sexual abuse, criminal sex act, endangering the welfare of a child, endangering the welfare of a physically disabled person, forcible touching, promoting a sexual performance by a child, public lewdness, first-degree rape, second-degree rape, third-degree rape, reckless endangerment, first-degree sexual abuse, second-degree sexual abuse, sexual abuse, forcible compulsion, sexual contact with an individual incapable of consent and sexual misconduct.
