ICE arrests 38 illegal aliens, including convicted rapist and child sex offender



United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Newark, New Jersey, conducted an approximately two-week-long operation that led to the apprehension of 38 illegal aliens, according to a Thursday press release from the federal immigration agency.

The operation, which spanned from April 15 to April 26, arrested “egregious criminal offenders” with prior convictions and/or pending charges.

'We will use the full force of our immigration authority.'

One of the detained individuals, a 36-year-old Honduran national, was previously “convicted of felony rape, false imprisonment, sex offense, and perverted practice,” ICE reported. That individual was removed from the country in 2017.

ICE also arrested a 27-year-old citizen of the Dominican Republic “who was convicted of felony endangering-sexual conduct with a child by non-caretaker.“

A detained Mexican national, 39, was previously removed from the U.S., convicted of prostitution and driving under the influence.

Other detained individuals included a 26-year-old Chilean national with a felony burglary conviction and a 46-year-old Columbian citizen accused of “money laundering, promoting gambling and conspiracy/promoting gambling.”

In response to the arrests, ERO Newark Field Office Director John Tsoukaris stated, “Those who enter our country illegally and break our laws should know that we will use the full force of our immigration authority to bring them to justice.”

“These individuals were placed in ERO custody and processed for removal proceedings under the Immigration and Nationality Act,” Tsoukaris noted.

ICE primarily focuses on detaining illegal immigrants who have committed additional crimes in addition to unlawfully entering the country.

“In fiscal year 2023, ERO arrested 73,822 noncitizens with criminal histories; this group had 290,178 associated charges and convictions with an average of four per individual. These included 33,209 assaults; 4,390 sex and sexual assaults; 7,520 weapons offenses; 1,713 charges or convictions for homicide; and 1,655 kidnapping offenses,” ICE reported.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office District of New Jersey announced Thursday the arrest of six Chilean nationals who were charged in connection with a burglary ring that targeted residences in multiple states, including New York and Maryland. According to a Department of Justice press release, the suspects stole jewelry, collectibles, and other goods.

The suspects were charged with “one count of conspiracy to sell and receive stolen property that had crossed state lines and one count of receiving stolen property that had crossed state lines.”

Tsoukaris said, “These arrests of a group of foreign-born individuals that engaged in interstate crime demonstrates how critical the cooperation between various law enforcement agencies continues to be.”

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Cargo ship fire in Newark expected to continue burning for days; 2 firefighters who died sent maydays from within vessel

Cargo ship fire in Newark expected to continue burning for days; 2 firefighters who died sent maydays from within vessel



A cargo vessel that caught fire at the Port of Newark in New Jersey Wednesday is expected to continue burning for days, officials said Friday, as WABC-TV reported.

Two firefighters trapped while fighting the blaze aboard the Grande Costa D’Avorio were killed Wednesday and six others were injured, CNN reported.

"Members made an attempt to extinguish the fire but got pushed back by the intense heat. Two firefighters were lost while conducting this action of backing out of the structure," Newark Fire Chief Rufus Jackson told the outlet.

Newark firefighters Augusto Acabou, 45, and Wayne Brooks Jr., 49 were killed, authorities said. Acabou was a nine-year veteran of the Newark Fire Department. Brooks had served for more than 16 years, WABC reported.

Firefighters went to the 10th or 11th floor of the nearly 700-foot-long ship to battle the blaze Wednesday, Chief Jackson also said.

The ship is carrying more than 1,200 new and used vehicles and 157 containers, according to WABC.

The massive fire "could burn for a couple more days," officials said at a press conference Friday, as WNBC reported.

"It is clear we are dealing with an extremely difficult set of circumstances aboard a very large cargo ship," New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) said at a press conference Friday.

"Unfortunately, the fire has spread significantly. Overnight, it went down two floors of the ship, from the ninth level to the seventh, and extended roughly 300 feet forward," Murphy also said, adding that there are multiple firefighters on the ship itself who have been privately contracted by the ship's owner.

"The issue of the ship listing is a growing concern. It is currently listing 3° toward the dock. A 5°-6° shift is the danger zone."

"New Jersey State Police extend our deepest sympathies to the Newark Fire Department and to the family members on the loss of Firefighter Augusto Acabou and Firefighter Wayne Brooks, Jr. FFs Acabou and Brooks paid the ultimate sacrifice and we salute you. Rest in peace, sirs," the New Jersey State Police tweeted Friday.

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The Newark Firefighters Union launched a fundraising effort to support the families of Augusto "Augie" Acabou and Wayne "Bear" Brooks Jr. As of Saturday morning, the GoFundMe campaign had reached $60,543 of its $100,000 goal.

Watch coverage from WABC-TV below of the cargo ship fire in Port Newark that killed two firefighters and is expected to continue burning for days.



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City of Newark humiliated after signing trade deal and holding sister city ceremony with Hindu nation that doesn't exist



The Democrat-run city of Newark, New Jersey, recently formalized its sister city partnership with the Hindu nation of Kailasa. Evidently, city officials did not consult a map before doing so.

The "United States of Kailasa" does not exist. It is the invention of an accused rapist who has been on the run from Indian authorities since 2019 for child abduction and other crimes.

Newark residents have spoken out about Democrat officials' failed foray into foreign policy, questioning whether anyone at City Hall is capable of performing a simple Google search.

A sisterhood of deception

According to its website, the so-called nation of Kailasa "is the home and refuge for the international Hindu diaspora. ... The nation of KAILASA stands as the world's sole beacon of genuine Hindu self-governance and autonomy."

The population of the fictitious realm that Newark had a fleeting relationship with is allegedly "100 million Adi Shaivites; 2 Billion practicing Hindus."

The fake nation has its own flag, emblem, national anthem, constitution, and passport.

India Today reported that Swami Nithyananda, the 45-year-old con man behind Kailasa, is a self-proclaimed god-man wanted in India on several charges of rape and sexual assault.

Nithyananda is believed to have escaped justice to a private island near Trinidad and Tobago in 2019.

The accused child rapist refers to himself as a "Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism" keen on "giving superconscious breakthrough to humanity, which is physically demonstrable through various power manifestations."

Nithyananda noted on his website that in January, "the United States of KAILASA and the City of Newark, New Jersey, USA, entered into a protocol bilateral agreement."

Unlike other claims, the accused rapist was not lying about the agreement, having included a host of images of Democrat Mayor Ras J. Baraka and other city officials celebrating the occasion in the company of purported Kailasa dignitaries at Newark City Hall.

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Nithyananda said in his announcement of the agreement, "Today indeed marks an important beginning of collaboration between the United States of KAILASA and the City of Newark to further advance the broader bilateral agenda for a greater vision of world peace. With this protocol bilateral relations KAILASA looks forward to bringing its humanitarian services to the city of Newark and serve its community."

During the ceremony, Mayor Baraka said, "I pray that our relationship helps us to understand cultural, social and political development and improves the lives of everybody in both places, and helps us to understand where we are and who we are and our connectivity to one another, and helps us to become better people in this process — better people individually and as cities and nations."

Newark and United States of Kailasa become Sister Cities youtu.be

Sisters no more

Susan Garofalo, press secretary in the city's communications department, told the Press Trust of India that after "we learned about the circumstances surrounding Kailasa, the City of Newark immediately took action and rescinded the sister city agreement" on Jan. 18.

"Based on deception, the ceremony was groundless and void," added Garofalo. "Although this was a regrettable incident, the City of Newark remains committed to partnering with people from diverse cultures in order to enrich each other with connectivity, support, and mutual respect."

Newark resident Jacob Rosario told WCBS-TV that the incident was "very embarrassing for the city."

"I truly don't even have words for it," said resident Atiyah Harris.

Resident Amaris Mitchell said, "I'm really sorry for the city that they got duped in that way."

"Whose job was it to do a simple Google search? No one in City Hall, not one person did a Google search, so maybe we need a transformation of City Hall 'cause not one person said, let me go and Google and figure out this was a fake city," Newark resident Shakee Merritt told WCBS-TV.

Matt Friedman pointed out in Politico that "Newark Mayor Ras Baraka is often mentioned as a potential candidate for governor in 2025. If he actually wants to run, this embarrassment won’t help him."

TheBlaze recently reported that the prospective gubernatorial candidate celebrated the installation of a monument Thursday honoring abolitionist trailblazer Harriet Tubman. The monument took the place of a statue of Christopher Columbus that Baraka and other iconoclasts had taken down.

At the time of the Columbus statue's removal, Barakas said, "The removal of this statue should not be perceived as an insult to the Italian-American community. It is a statement against the barbarism, enslavement, and oppression that this explorer represents."

In Columbus' travels, never did he encounter Kailasa.

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Harriet Tubman monument replaces  Christopher Columbus statue in New Jersey



A monument honoring abolitionist trailblazer Harriet Tubman was unveiled in Newark, New Jersey, Thursday, replacing a long-standing statue of Christopher Columbus removed in 2020 amid the civil unrest following the death of George Floyd.

"In a time when so many cities are choosing to topple statues that limit the scope of their people’s story, we have chosen to erect a monument that spurs us into our future story of exemplary strength and solidity," Newark's Mayor Ras Baraka said in a press release.

"In a country where the overwhelming majority of monuments are testaments to white males, Newark has chosen to erect a monument to a Black woman who was barely five feet tall, but had the visage and power of a giant," Baraka also said.

The new monument, designed by New Jersey native and architect Nina Cooke John, is titled "Shadow of a Face." It honors intrepid abolitionist Harriet Tubman and the city's role in the Underground Railroad.

"Shadow of a Face celebrates both the legacy of Harriet Tubman and the lives of the people living in Newark today – connecting their story to Tubman’s story through a common bond of seekers of liberty in the past and in the present," said Cooke John.

"Her heroism is recognized, and space is claimed for her story in this historic park, while her humanity is made accessible so that we can all be empowered by her deeds both great and small."

Dignitaries, politicians, and celebrities on hand for Thursday's unveiling included Queen Latifah, New Jersey's first lady Tammy Murphy, state Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz, Newark Museum of Art Director and CEO Linda C. Harrison, and Michele Jones Galvin, a descendant of Harriet Tubman.

Several photographs of "Shadow of a Face" and the unveiling ceremony are available here. Readers can also enjoy a time-lapse video of the monument's creation and interviews with significant figures involved in bringing it to fruition, provided by the city.

Harriet Tubman Monument Photo by DreamPlay, Photographer Cesar Melgar/flic.kr


Harriet Tubman Monument Photo by DreamPlay, Photographer Cesar Melgar/flic.kr

"Shadow of a Face" replaces a statue of Christopher Columbus that was removed by the city in June 2020. It was a gift from Newark's Italian community unveiled on Columbus Day in 1927, according to NewarkHistory.

"In keeping with the movement to remove symbols of oppression and white supremacy, we have decided to remove the statue of Christopher Columbus from Washington Park," Mayor Baraka said on the statue's removal in June 2020.

"The removal of this statue should not be perceived as an insult to the Italian-American community. It is a statement against the barbarism, enslavement, and oppression that this explorer represents," Baraka also said.

A second Christopher Columbus statue was removed from the city "by private citizens" about a week later.

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Cops in Newark hospitalized after 'mob' allegedly 'pummeled,' 'kicked,' and 'choked' them during arrest attempt



Three police officers were "pummeled" Tuesday by a "mob" that "kicked" and "choked" them in Newark, New Jersey, NJ.com reported.

The incident reportedly occurred during an arrest attempt, the outlet said.

What are the details?

Newark Public Safety Director Brian O'Hara told NJ.com that two city officers and a detective from the Essex County Prosecutor's Office were on patrol around 1:30 p.m. in response to recent gun violence when they approached a group of men on a street and tried to stop one who was suspected of gun possession.

Then two brothers of the suspect arrived at the scene and "physically interfered" with the arrest, and the officers called for backup, O'Hara told the outlet.

Two officers were injured during the incident, officials told NJ.com, adding that they were taken to a hospital and later released.

However, James Stewart — president of the Newark Fraternal Order of Police — told the outlet that the three officers were "set upon by a mob of people" while trying to make the arrest, the outlet reported.

"Our officers were pummeled to the ground, kicked in the head and choked," Stewart told NJ.com. "Body worn cameras were forcibly removed and smashed on the ground by the suspects."

Stewart added to the outlet that all three officers were injured and hospitalized despite the city report that said only two were injured. NJ.com said O'Hara did not comment on how the officers were injured.

'Not one of the suspects involved was injured'

"I am especially thankful that the officers involved were very intentional about resolving the incident as peacefully as possible," O'Hara added to the outlet. "They were clearly in danger. But because of their exceptional restraint, not one of the suspects involved was injured. The performance of these officers is commendable, especially in today's climate, where similarly minor incidents have resulted in unpredictable outcomes."

Arrests made

Branden K. Rodwell, 31, of Newark, and Justin Rodwell, 30, of Irvington, were arrested at the scene, O'Hara told NJ.com, adding that Jaykil A. Rodwell, 28, and Jasper D. Spivey, 24 — both of Newark — were arrested Wednesday after surrendering to police.

Branden and Justin Rodwell each face charges of three counts of aggravated assault against a police officer, obstruction of the administration of the law, and resisting arrest, police told the outlet. Jaykil Rodwell and Spivey each face charges of three counts of aggravated assault against a police officer, obstruction of the administration of the law, and hindering apprehension or prosecution, police added.

NJ.com reported that it's unclear if a gun was recovered at the scene, and that police declined to immediately release body camera video of the incident.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka's office did not respond to a request for comment, the outlet said.

'Complete lack of respect for law enforcement must end'

"This mentality that people do not have to abide by the law, this complete lack of respect for law enforcement must end," Stewart added to NJ.com. "I look forward to the statement from the Mayor of Newark demanding a full investigation and imploring the Essex County Prosecutor's Office to devote their full resources to the apprehension and conviction of every single person involved in this attack on these officers."