Three rearrested by ICE after local authorities fail to honor detainers
Three undocumented immigrants were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Philadelphia this month after the men were released by local authorities despite detainers that were lodged against them by the federal agency, according to a news release from ICE.
Three undocumented immigrants were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Philadelphia this month after the men were released by local authorities despite detainers that were lodged against them by the federal agency, according to a news release from ICE.
"Detainers lodged with Philadelphia authorities were not honored," the release said, in part.
In January, Mayor Kenney reestablished Philadelphia as a "sanctuary city," essentially prohibiting local police and prison staff from informing ICE when an undocumented prisoner is released from custody, except in cases where the person is a violent, convicted felon for whom ICE has filed a warrant.
Ajeenah Amir, a spokeswoman for the Mayor's Office, confirmed that the men in question were released and that ICE detainers had been filed against them.
"The release of inmates is managed by the prisons based on city policy," she wrote in a statement emailed Sunday. "We're currently reviewing the details of each case and should be able to give additional info tomorrow."
Supporters of sanctuary cities say detainers are subject to misuse, and that the federal government has sufficient tools to apprehend immigrants without relying on local law enforcement.
According to ICE and online court records, Marco Arturo Juarez-Ramos, 27, a Mexican citizen, was arrested in Philadelphia on Aug. 15 for possessing instruments of a crime, terroristic threats, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person.
Juarez-Ramos, who has a prior conviction for driving under the influence of intoxicants, was released from custody on Aug. 18 after posting $2,500 bail, according to ICE and court records.
He was rearrested by ICE officers in Philadelphia on Aug. 24 and will remain in federal custody pending deportation proceedings, the news release said.
Fabio Dalloco, 46, an Italian citizen, was arrested on June 6, 2015, when customs officials said they found 14 pounds of cocaine in his suitcase at Philadelphia International Airport.
On Aug. 3, after more than a year in prison, Dalloco pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance. He was sentenced to 11-and-a-half-to-23 months in prison, but received credit for time served and was immediately paroled after his guilty plea, court records show.
Dalloco was rearrested by ICE officers on Aug. 16 in the city and will remain in their custody pending deportation proceedings, according to the news release.
Elvis Velasquez-Roblero, 36, a Mexican national, was released from custody after his Aug. 3 arrest in Philadelphia, ICE said. Court records could not immediately be found for his case and ICE officials did not detail the nature of his recent alleged crimes. However, ICE said that Velasquez-Roblero has prior convictions for aggravated assault and weapons offenses.
Velasquez-Roblero was rearrested by ICE officers on Aug. 18 and will remain in federal custody pending removal proceedings, the news release said.
"At-large criminal alien arrests are among the most dangerous type of enforcement actions ICE officers are engaged in on a daily basis. These arrests also represent the greatest risk to the community," Thomas Decker, field office director for ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations in Philadelphia, said in the release. "This level of risk can be mitigated in many instances. ICE welcomes changes to the current policy that would allow the city to cooperate with ICE toward achieving the shared goal of protecting public safety and national security while balancing important community policing needs."
In May, Kenney declined to modify Philadelphia's sanctuary city policy after meeting with Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson.
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