NEWARK – A Canadian national, with a long history of criminal convictions in the U.S., was removed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) for immigration violations and turned over to Canadian authorities where he is wanted on a narcotics conviction.
Sebastian Rosales entered the U.S. as a nonimmigrant visitor in 1988. He was arrested in Florida in 1993 for vehicle theft and burglary and sentenced to a year and a half of probation. It is unknown when he departed the U.S. for Canada. He attempted to reenter the U.S. again in 2000 but was denied entry based on his past criminal conviction.
Rosales reentered the U.S. at an unknown date and place without being inspected, admitted or paroled by a U.S. Immigration official.
On October 4, 2017, Rosales was encountered by ICE at the Hudson County Correctional Facility (HCCF) in Kearny, NJ following his arrest for possession of a controlled substance near a school zone, and other charges. On October 10, 2017, he was turned over to ERO Newark. He was held in ICE ERO custody and released upon posting bond.
On May 11, 2018, the Hudson County Superior Court of New Jersey convicted Rosales of distribution of marijuana near a school zone and sentenced him to 3 years of probation and a fine of $1,205.00.
On December 1, 2018, ERO Newark arrested Rosales during a targeted enforcement operation. On January 24, 2019, an immigration judge in Elizabeth, NJ ordered Rosales removed to Canada.
Rosales was removed on April 3, 2019, accompanied by ICE officers, and transferred to Canadian authorities in Montreal.
“This individual’s long history of criminal activity, including selling drugs near school zones, show that he is a danger to the community who warranted removal from the U.S.,” said John Tsoukaris, field office director, ICE ERO Newark. “Our officers’ dedicated and courageous efforts show our ongoing commitment to public safety.”
“One of HSI Montreal’s primary concerns is successful international collaboration, especially as it relates to those convicted felons who seek to evade the administration of justice. HSI Montreal will continue to work together with our international law enforcement partners to ensure that fugitives such as this are efficiently brought to the appropriate authorities,” said Mike Hatfield, Assistant Attaché Homeland Security Investigations – Montréal.
ICE removed or returned 256,085 aliens in fiscal year 2018. The proportion of FY18 removals resulting from ICE arrests increased by nearly seventeen percent over the previous fiscal year, and the number of ICE interior removals in FY18 increased by nearly 14,000 from FY17.
