ICE Arrests Two Illegal Immigrants Convicted of Crimes Against Children in New Jersey and Texas

WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials arrested two illegal immigrants convicted of crimes against children during separate operations in New Jersey and Texas, authorities said Monday. The arrests reflect a continued focus on removing violent offenders from the country, officials added.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) identified the detainees as Gladys Leticia Bustamente-Rios of Honduras and Maria Alejandra Gamarro-Quinonez of Guatemala. Both women remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

Bustamente-Rios was previously removed from the United States and barred from reentering. She initially entered the country illegally in 1997 and was charged that year with assault and a family offense, resulting in a five-year prison sentence. An immigration judge ordered her removal in 1998, and she was deported in 1999. She later reentered the country illegally, which constitutes a felony offense. ICE officers located and arrested her at her residence last month.

Gamarro-Quinonez entered the U.S. legally on a visitor visa but failed to depart by the required date of April 27, 2007. She was arrested and booked in Sussex County, New Jersey, on Aug. 14, 2023, after facing child endangerment charges. She had been issued a final order of removal prior to her arrest.

ICE Director Todd M. Lyons emphasized the agency’s commitment to public safety, stating that these individuals victimized children, who are among the most vulnerable members of society. “ICE is ensuring that these criminals will never do this again,” Lyons said. “Our mission is about public safety and removing dangerous threats from this country, and we will not rest until our communities are safe from these vicious criminals.”

The arrests come amid a broader enforcement initiative under the current administration aimed at identifying and removing criminal illegal aliens. Both women had prior removal orders and were apprehended as part of coordinated operations targeting individuals convicted of serious offenses against children.

Officials did not provide further details on the specific crimes or the outcomes of any related court proceedings. Both detainees remain in ICE custody as removal processes continue.