Latest news with #Romero-Hernandez
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
Immigrant who assaulted officers in Ithaca pleads guilty to illegally entering United States
UTICA, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — The Mexican citizen accused of assaulting police officers in the Ithaca area has admitted to illegally crossing the border into the United States after previous deportations. NewsChannel 9 was the only news organization in the federal courtroom as 25-year-old Jesus Romero-Hernadez plead guilty to the single felony count of illegal reentry. In January, Romero-Hernadez's lengthy criminal history helped make him one target of President Donald Trump's increased immigration enforcement. Before being accused of the federal immigration charge, Romero-Hernandez has been accused of at least nine misdemeanors, two felonies, and multiple arrest warrants Among the charges were at least three different arrests related to family violence, along with battery and assault in Georgia in 2020. Then, at an unknown time, he moved to Tompkins County, including living at the homeless encampment in Ithaca nicknamed 'The Jungle.' While in Tompkins County, Romero-Hernandez was arrested at least three times. In March of 2022, federal prosecutors say he destroyed the inside of a hotel room in Lansing. In September of 2023, he was accused of putting a police officer in a 'chokehold.' Then, in November of 2023, he admitted to biting the finger of a correction officer with his jaw locking down before punching the officer. It was the most recent assault of an officer that had Romero-Hernandez serving a sentence that expired in January, when the Tompkins County Sheriff allowed him to leave jail. The federal government has since accused the sheriff of refusing 'to honor a federal warrant.' After he was out free, ICE then arrested Romero-Hernandez. Romero-Hernandez will be sentenced later this year at a hearing currently scheduled for July. His guilty admission risks up to two years in prison and the high likelihood he'll be deported to Mexico again. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
05-02-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
ICE in Ithaca: Tompkins County legislators, residents react to recent deportation efforts
A federal judge will hold Mexican citizen Jesus Romero-Hernandez in custody following his arrest in Ithaca on Thursday. President Donald Trump's Department of Justice alleged in a statement that the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office released Romero-Hernandez last week before federal agents could retrieve him. Several people applauded the sheriff for adhering to sanctuary city policies like those in place throughout Tompkins County, while others questioned the decision. A federal judge will hold Mexican citizen Jesus Romero-Hernandez, 27, in custody following his arrest in Ithaca Thursday. President Donald Trump's Department of Justice alleged in a statement that the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office released Romero-Hernandez last week before Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents could retrieve the man, awaiting resolution of state assault charges. Tompkins County legislators and Ithaca residents expressed a range of reactions to Tompkins County Sherriff Derek Osborne's actions, according to a video of the Tuesday, Feb. 4 meeting. Several people applauded the sheriff for adhering to sanctuary city policies like those in place throughout Tompkins County. Reactions to federal presence in Tompkins County 'We support Sheriff Osborne and all our local officials who follow the law and our local sanctuary city policies when ICE came to target our city," county resident Lynne Jackier said. 'We hope that the city of Ithaca, Tompkins County and New York State are making plans in advance and getting prepared to resist the unwarranted, unjustifiable mass deportation project.' Others including Ithaca resident Zach Winn questioned the sheriff's office in its decision. "Should someone with his record, lack of citizenship, and an order of removal be allowed to remain free in the city of Ithaca, Tompkins County, or the United States?" Winn asked. 'I would like to understand the communication breakdown between federal immigration officials and the county jail. What policy led to Mr. Hernandez's release?' Winn said though many have criticized ICE operations in Tompkins County as 'excessive,' such a response would not have been necessarily had he remained in jail until immigrations and customs enforcement officials could retrieve him. Both local and federal officials have refused to answer questions regarding deportation and Romero-Hernandez's arrest according to some reports, but several Tompkins County legislators spoke to the issue Tuesday, including Michael Lane - a democratic legislator representing the city of Ithaca - who compared the United States immigrations system to a bully. Facility upgrades:Ithaca College to begin construction on updated west-campus athletic track NY Comptroller:Ithaca woman stole $70K using deceased husband's pension 'Being a bully isn't teaching people what they need to know, it isn't leadership. People don't need to be afraid of their government,' he said. 'There was nothing wrong with what our law enforcement community did here in not holding that person, what was wrong was the bully(ing) that we saw the next day.' Lane described the federal presence in downtown Ithaca as 'a bully, a show of force to frighten people.' He said federal agents have also 'been harassing' non-native migrant farmers in Geneva and throughout upstate New York.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lengthy criminal history makes undocumented immigrant the target of President Trump's increased enforcement
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — The federal government laid out the lengthy criminal history that helped make an undocumented immigrant in Ithaca the target of President Donald Trump's increased enforcement. What happens if the Department of Education is abolished? Democratic chairs choose candidate for NY-21 Like father, like son: Jeremiah Trotter Jr. continues legacy of Eagles Super Bowl linebackers Lengthy criminal history makes undocumented immigrant the target of President Trump's increased enforcement $1M to help reenvision Friendship Park Jesus Romero-Hernandez has been accused of at least nine misdemeanors, two felonies, and multiple arrest warrants, Magistrate Judge Thérèse Wiley Dancks counted aloud in federal court on Tuesday, Feb. 4. Among the charges were at least three different arrests related to family violence, along with battery and assault in Georgia in 2020. Then, at an unknown time, he moved to Tompkins County, including living at the homeless encampment in Ithaca nicknamed 'The Jungle.' While in Tompkins County, Romero-Hernandez was arrested at least three times. In March of 2022, federal prosecutors say he destroyed the inside of a hotel room in Lansing. In September of 2023, he's accused of putting a police officer in a 'chokehold.' Then, in November of 2023, he admitted to biting the finger of a corrections officer with his jaw locking down before punching the officer. It was the most recent assault of an officer that had Romero-Hernandez serving a sentence that expired last week, when the Tompkins County Sheriff allowed him to leave jail. The federal government has since accused the sheriff of refusing 'to honor a federal warrant.' After he was out free, ICE then arrested Romero-Hernandez. Judge Dancks ruled to keep the immigrant in jail for the duration of his federal case. He's charged with illegally reentering the United States. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DOJ probing sheriff over undocumented immigrant's release
In what appears to be part of the Trump administration's ongoing campaign against sanctuary cities, the Justice Department is investigating a sheriff in upstate New York who released an undocumented man later taken into custody by federal agents. The US Attorney's office for the Northern District of New York "is looking into the circumstances" surrounding the release by Tompkins County Sheriff Derek Osborne of Jesus Romero-Hernandez, a 27-year-old Mexican citizen. Romero-Hernandez pleaded guilty to a state assault charge and was sentenced to time served, necessitating his release. He left local custody in Ithaca before Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrived to pick him up on a federal complaint charging him with illegally re-entering the United States after a prior removal. Ithaca adopted a sanctuary law in 2017. ICE, the U.S. Marshals Service and Homeland Security Investigations later apprehended Romero-Hernandez. MORE: Trump signs Laken Riley Act, setting up next phase of immigration crackdown "The Tompkins County Sheriff's Office in Ithaca, NY, a self-described sanctuary city, appears to have failed to honor a valid federal arrest warrant for a criminal alien with an assault conviction," Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove said. "I applaud the U.S. Attorney's commitment to investigate these circumstances for potential prosecution." Tompkins County and the Tompkins County Sheriff's office issued a joint statement refuting the DOJ's claims. The officials said ICE was "notified of when the individual in question was going to be released and had every opportunity to come to the jail to obtain the individual in question without any need for a pursuit or other incident." "There was no interference with federal immigration enforcement efforts. DOJ's assertion that the Tompkins County Sheriff did anything to put federal law enforcement officers in danger is false and offensive," the offices said. MORE: Newark mayor says ICE 'raided' a business, as agents make arrests in other Northeast cities Bove convened all 93 US attorney's offices on a phone call on Thursday to convey that they should focus on surging resources toward immigration enforcement. He likened the threat posed by undocumented immigrants to the threat posed by terrorists. It represents a significant shift for the Justice Department redirecting law enforcement resources away from previous national security priorities and toward immigration enforcement. DOJ probing sheriff over undocumented immigrant's release originally appeared on
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mexican man illegally in the U.S. arrested by federal officers in Tompkins County
TOMPKINS COUNTY, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — A Mexican man who was allegedly in the United States illegally was arrested by federal law enforcement in Tompkins County, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York said. In exclusive interview, Governor says work to begin construction of Micron campus is 'taking too long' How concerned should we be over the bird flu? Eagles the new America's Team for the Super Bowl? Taste of the NFL blends food, football, and philanthropy ahead of Super Bowl Trump takes executive action on aviation DEI, appointing FAA lead in wake of DCA crash Jesus Romero-Hernandez, 27, was charged with a federal crime on Jan. 8 for re-entering the U.S. illegally after a prior removal. During that time, Romero-Hernandez was in the custody of the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office, awaiting the resolution of New York State assault charges. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) then gave the sheriff's office a copy of Romero-Hernandez's federal arrest warrant, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. On Jan. 28, Romero-Hernandez settled the assault charges by pleading guilty and received a sentence of time served. The U.S. Attorney's Office says the sheriff's office then 'refused to honor the federal arrest warrant and released Romero-Hernandez before ICE-ERO arrived to pick him up and bring him to federal court in Syracuse to be arraigned on the pending federal criminal complaint.' On Thursday, Jan. 30, Romero-Hernandez was apprehended by federal law enforcement. 'The Tompkins County Sheriff's Office in Ithaca, NY, a self-described sanctuary city, appears to have failed to honor a valid federal arrest warrant for a criminal alien with an assault conviction,' said Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove. 'Yesterday, despite the warrant, a defendant with no legal status and a history of violence was released into the community. Federal agents risked their safety and pursued the defendant in unsafe conditions. Today, they were successful in recapturing the defendant. As of now, the charges against Romero-Hernandez are only accusations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
