Two of the four migrants who climbed over a wall and escaped from a federal immigration detention center, Delaney Hall, in Newark, New Jersey, have been captured, according to the FBI's report.
In a statement published on social media, the authorities confirmed that Joel Enrique Sandoval-Lopez and Joan Sebastian Castaneda-Lozada were back in custody since Friday, while Franklin Norberto Bautista-Reyes and Andrés Felipe Pineda-Mogollón remained at large.
The officials did not disclose how or where the two detainees were captured. The four men were in the country illegally and had previously been charged with crimes by local police in New Jersey and New York, according to Homeland Security officials.
Sandoval-López from Honduras was charged with illegal possession of a firearm in October and with aggravated assault in February, according to authorities. Castaneda-Lozada from Colombia was charged with burglary, theft, and conspiracy, according to authorities.
Bautista-Reyes from Honduras was arrested for aggravated assault, attempted bodily harm, terrorist threats, and a weapons offense. Pineda-Mogollón from Colombia was charged with misdemeanor theft and robbery.
The FBI has announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the two migrants who are still at large.
The four migrants had escaped from the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, on Thursday night amid a climate of tension and reports of poor detention conditions, which also sparked protests around the facility.
The escape occurred in a context of unrest both inside and outside the facilities, prompting an immediate response from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which classified the escapees as "public safety threats" and offered a reward for any information that could lead to their recapture.
The DHS was unequivocal in classifying the escapees as “illegal foreign criminals who are currently evading federal law enforcement and pose threats to public safety.”
According to the agency, the four were considered high-risk and were in custody awaiting immigration or criminal proceedings.
The DHS, along with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, launched an operation to locate the fugitives.
Alerts were issued to all local police departments, and their names, photographs, and charges were disseminated.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Migrant Escape from Delaney Hall Detention Center
Who are the migrants who escaped from the Delaney Hall detention center?
The escaped migrants are Franklin Norberto Bautista-Reyes, Joel Enrique Sandoval-Lopez, Joan Sebastian Castaneda-Lozada, and Andrés Felipe Pineda-Mogollón. Bautista-Reyes and Sandoval-Lopez are from Honduras, while Castaneda-Lozada and Pineda-Mogollón are from Colombia. All of them were detained due to their irregular immigration status and allegations of crimes.
How did the migrants escape from the Delaney Hall detention center?
The escape occurred amid disturbances both inside and outside the facilities of Delaney Hall, where the detainees broke through an interior wall that led to an exterior one and escaped to a parking lot. The chaos in the detention center was exacerbated by poor detention conditions and the protests from demonstrators outside the premises.
What measures have the authorities taken to recapture the escaped migrants?
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the FBI have launched an operation to capture the fugitives. Additionally, a reward of $10,000 has been offered for information leading to their capture, alerts have been issued to local law enforcement, and their names and photographs have been disseminated.
What are the conditions at Delaney Hall detention center that sparked the disturbances?
The conditions in Delaney Hall have been described as deplorable, with reports of poor food conditions, lack of adequate medical care, and an unhealthy environment. These issues have caused discontent among the detainees and triggered disturbances within the facility.
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