FBI Confirms Capture of Escaped Immigrant Detainees
On Sunday, FBI officials in Newark, New Jersey announced that two of the four immigrant detainees who had escaped were back in custody.
Described as a “threat to public safety” by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the four prisoners broke free from Delaney Hall, an ICE detention center, on the evening of June 12th.
The captured individuals, Joel Enrique Sandoval Lopez and Joan Sebastian Castaneda Rosada, were apprehended, while Franklin Norberto Bautista Reyes and Andres Felipe Pineda Mogoron are still at large. All four detainees originate from Honduras.
DHS has put forth a $10,000 reward for any information leading to their arrest.
Details of the Escape
Amidst the escape, ICE staff were reportedly attacked, as around 70 illegal immigrants took part in a larger uprising.
Bautista Reyes entered the U.S. illegally in 2021 and had previous encounters with law enforcement, including an arrest at a New Jersey police station on May 3 for various charges, including threats and possession of weapons.
Sandoval Lopez entered the country as a minor back in 2019 and faced arrests in the past as well, including charges for illegal handgun possession and aggravated assault.
Meanwhile, Castaneda Rosada was arrested for robbery and conspiracy on May 15 after entering the U.S. in 2022.
Remaining Suspect
Pineda Mogoron got here in 2023 but overstayed his tourist visa. His run-ins with law enforcement include two arrests in April and May for theft and conspiracy related to burglary.
Immigration lawyer Mustafa Setin noted that dissatisfaction with food delays led approximately 50 detainees to act out violently at the facility. “It was about food,” he said, describing how frustrations escalated.
At around 9 PM on June 12, protesters obstructed an SUV from leaving Delaney Hall, pushing it back towards the facility.
The DHS has reported heightened tensions within the detention center, which is designed to provide comprehensive services, including healthcare, visits, and access to legal resources.
