Franklin Square man arrested, detained

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An unnamed Franklin Square man was one of 32 total people arrested across Long Island in July for allegedly committing sex crimes.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the recent arrests of sex offenders on Long Island, not just in Franklin Square, but throughout Nassau County, specifically in East Meadow, Garden City, Glen Cove, Mineola, Port Washington, Roosevelt, Uniondale and Westbury. ICE also made arrests in Suffolk County. 

The arrests were done in part of Operation SOAR. During Operation SOAR, which stands for Sex Offender Alien Removal, Enforcement Removal officers apprehended individuals with past criminal convictions, ranging from sexual abuse to attempted rape. Of those arrested, 12 are registered sexual offenders. Everyone who was taken into custody is currently being detained, and their removal proceedings nearly complete.

Thomas R. Decker, the ICE field office director for New York, said that the organization's continuing commitment to making communities safer is emphasized by operations such as SOAR, which focuses on apprehending sexual offenders. 

"These actions focus our resources on the most egregious criminals and promote public safety in the communities in which we live and work," he said. "Enforcement Removal Operation officers are out there every day enforcing immigration law with targeted enforcement actions. ICE will not waiver in its promise to arrest and remove criminal aliens from our neighborhoods."

The crimes of those arrested range from sexual abuse to attempted rape.

State Sen. Elaine Phillips expressed her gratitude to ICE in an email to
the Herald.

 "Our community is now safer thanks to the commendable efforts of the law enforcement officials who conducted this takedown," she said. "Because of their focus, 32 sexual predators are off the streets. We must continue to crack down on these crimes to keep Long Islanders  safe."

Criminal histories of those arrested during the operation are as follows: acting in a manner to injure a child, assault, third degree attempted rape, burglary, attempted sexual abuse, criminal sex act, endangering the welfare of a child, endangering the welfare of a physically disabled person, forcible touching, promoting a sexual performance by a child, public lewdness, first degree rape, second degree rape, third degree rape, reckless endangerment, first degree sexual abuse, second degree sexual abuse, sexual abuse, forcible compulsion, sexual contact with an individual incapable of consent and sexual misconduct, according to ICE officials.

The arrestees include nationals from the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Mexico, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago.

There are several situations the detained could face. The foreign nationals arrested will be processed administratively for removal from the United States. The arrestees who have outstanding orders of deportation, or who returned to the United States illegally after being deported, are subject to immediate removal from the country. The remaining individuals are in ICE custody awaiting a hearing before an immigration judge or pending travel arrangements for removal in the near future, according to ICE authorities.

Despite repeated attempts to contact the New York ICE field office for further details, such as the names of the people who were arrested, none were made known as of press time.

"We must continue to rid our community of sexual predators who commit these heinous crimes to ensure a better quality of life for all Long Islanders," Phillips said. "I am committed to working with law enforcement officials and my fellow lawmakers to assist in keeping neighborhoods safe and criminals off
the street."