MAHWAH, N.J. — Two men were taken into custody in northern New Jersey during a coordinated immigration enforcement operation involving the FBI’s Newark Field Office, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Mahwah Police Department, officials confirmed.
Both were hiding out in New Jersey, a state recognized by Governor Phil Murphy as an immigration sanctuary state.
One of the individuals arrested is wanted in connection with a homicide case in Colombia, according to authorities. That suspect had an outstanding international arrest warrant and was located during targeted enforcement actions in Mahwah, a township in Bergen County.
Their names were not released at this time.
The arrests are part of a broader national effort by federal agencies to locate and apprehend individuals who may pose a threat to public safety or are in violation of U.S. immigration laws.
The second man, also taken into custody during the same operation, was detained on unrelated immigration charges. Both individuals are now in federal custody, pending further legal proceedings.
The FBI and ICE have not disclosed the names of the individuals due to the ongoing nature of the investigation and extradition considerations. Colombian authorities are reportedly coordinating with U.S. officials regarding the murder suspect’s return.
“Federal and local partnerships are critical to protecting our communities and ensuring justice across borders,” a law enforcement official involved in the operation said.
The arrests took place as part of a nationwide series of immigration enforcement actions that have intensified in recent weeks, federal authorities confirmed.