On May 19, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in New York City apprehended Marlon Josuel Cruz Fernandez, an illegal immigrant from the Dominican Republic who is wanted for homicide in his home country. The arrest was carried out by ICE officers and special agents from various federal agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Homeland Security Investigations. Cruz was taken into custody without incident in New Rochelle based on a warrant for his arrest.
Judith Almodovar, acting Field Office Director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in New York City, commented on the arrest: “This foreign fugitive mistakenly thought he could exploit our immigration laws to evade arrest in his home country. Let his futile attempt highlight to other criminal aliens we will always collaborate with our domestic and international law enforcement partners to ensure these fugitives are returned to their home countries to face justice.”
Cruz initially entered the United States illegally on December 11, 2015, when he was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol in Texas’s Rio Grande Valley. After being served with a notice to appear for violating the Immigration and Nationality Act, he was placed under ICE detention but later released on bond. However, Cruz failed to attend his immigration proceedings on January 5, 2017, leading an immigration judge to order his removal from the U.S. in absentia.
Authorities in Santo Domingo issued a warrant for Cruz’s arrest on February 2, 2018, due to a homicide charge which later gained international attention. ICE New York City received notification of this case on March 16 of this year.
The New Rochelle Police Department arrested Cruz on May 17 for having improper vehicle plates and impounded his car. He was released before authorities realized he was an international fugitive wanted for homicide. Once informed of this status, the police department notified ICE New York City immediately.
Cruz remains detained under ICE custody pending his removal back to the Dominican Republic.
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