On December 28, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Efren Cortez-Velez, a Mexican national who had been convicted of child cruelty, criminal trespassing, and resisting arrest in Passaic, New Jersey. Cortez-Velez is now in ICE custody awaiting removal proceedings.
“Despite the constant rhetoric from politicians, activists and the media claiming that ICE is somehow wrong for doing its constitutionally mandated mission, the reality is that we’re out there arresting people like Efren Cortez-Velez — a criminal who entered this country illegally and was convicted of victimizing a vulnerable child,” said ICE Director Todd M. Lyons. “ICE officers and agents are facing a 1,347% increase in assaults, and they’re receiving 8,000% more death threats than they did compared to this time last year, but they’re still showing up every day to take the worst of the worst out of our communities and make America safe again.”
Records show that on March 9, 2007, Passaic Police Department arrested Cortez-Velez for criminal trespass and resisting arrest. He pleaded guilty later that year and paid a fine. On December 25 of the same year, he was arrested again for endangering a child. He pleaded guilty in April 2008 to abuse, abandonment, cruelty and neglect charges and received a six-month prison sentence.
Despite these convictions, Cortez-Velez remained in the United States until his recent arrest by ICE officers during an enforcement operation in Newark.
The public can report crimes or suspicious activity by calling 866-DHS-2-ICE or using an online tip form.
More information about ICE’s public safety mission can be found on X at @ICEgov.
