PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launched a billboard campaign as we speak in Pennsylvania to teach the general public in regards to the risks of non-cooperation insurance policies. The billboards characteristic at-large immigration violators who might pose a public security risk. These people had been beforehand arrested or convicted of crimes within the U.S., however had been launched into the neighborhood as an alternative of being transferred to ICE custody pursuant to an immigration detainer.
“Too usually sanctuary insurance policies limiting cooperation with ICE end in vital public security issues,” stated Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director Tony H. Pham. “ICE will proceed to implement immigration legal guidelines set forth by Congress by means of the efforts of the women and men of ICE to take away legal aliens and making our communities safer.”
The billboards are positioned at or close to:
- Route 1 north of Previous Lincoln Freeway
- Pennsylvania Turnpike Bridge & Wooden
- Walt Whitman Bridge #5
- Route 130 .3 miles south of Airport Circle
- North Christopher Columbus Boulevard Arctic Avenue
- I-276 Pennsylvania Turnpike east of Buck Street
ICE lodges immigration detainers on people who’ve been arrested on native legal fees and who’re suspected of being detachable, in order that ICE can take custody of that particular person when she or he is launched from native custody. When legislation enforcement companies fail to honor immigration detainers and launch critical legal offenders onto the streets, it undermines ICE’s means to guard public security and perform its mission.
The billboards characteristic instances like:
Han Soo Lee, 61, a South Korean nationwide illegally current within the U.S. Lee was arrested by the Philadelphia Police Division Aug. 11 for aggravated assault, easy assault, possessing instrument of crime, recklessly endangering. ICE lodged a detainer with Curran-Fromhold Detention Middle, however because of Philadelphia sanctuary legal guidelines, detainers haven’t been honored, and the topic was launched to the neighborhood.
Mike Bwondara, 36, a Kenyan nationwide illegally current within the U.S. Bwondara was arrested by the Philadelphia Police Division July 22 for aggravated assault, possess instrument of crime with intent, easy assault, and recklessly endangering one other particular person. ICE lodged a detainer with the Philadelphia Police Division, however because of Philadelphia sanctuary legal guidelines, detainers haven’t been honored, and the topic was launched to the neighborhood.
Lauro Peralta-Veles, 51, an Ecuadorian nationwide illegally current within the U.S. Peralta-Veles was arrested by the Pittsburgh Police Division June 20 for aggravated assault, public intoxication, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. ICE lodged a detainer, with the Allegheny County Jail, however because of Allegheny County sanctuary legal guidelines, detainers haven’t been honored, and the topic was launched to the neighborhood.
Non-cooperation insurance policies end in preventable crimes of violence going down in our communities when harmful legal aliens are launched to the streets to reoffend. In December 2018, the Pittsburgh Police Division arrested Harvinder Singh, an Indian nationwide illegally current within the U.S., for harassment. ICE officers lodged a detainer with the Allegheny County Jail, however it was not honored, and the topic was launched from native custody with out notification to ICE. This marked the second time a detainer on Singh wasn’t honored. He was beforehand arrested in 2017 for driving underneath the affect in Georgia, subsequently convicted, and the Columbus Police Division launched him with an energetic detainer in place. In February 2020, the New York Police Division (NYPD) arrested and charged him with homicide and legal possession of a weapon. ICE lodged a detainer with the NYPD – Queens Central Reserving and is presently monitoring the disposition of his legal case.
The general public ought to name ICE at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) if they’ve info to report in regards to the whereabouts of a person featured on one of many billboards.
