Federal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. Virgin Islands are moving to enforce a new executive order on immigration, U.S. Attorney Delia L. Smith announced Wednesday.
The order, titled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” was issued on Jan. 20 and directs federal agencies to prosecute individuals who enter the country unlawfully, particularly those deemed national security risks, according to the press release.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is fully committed to protecting our borders by
prosecuting individuals who unlawfully enter the United States,” Smith said. “We are working closely with our federal partners to interrupt the flow of illegal immigration into the U.S. Virgin Islands.”
The effort includes multiple federal agencies, including the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Service, and the Department of Homeland Security. Homeland Security’s various enforcement divisions will assist in identifying, detaining, and removing individuals who have entered the country illegally, the press release stated.
“The FBI remains committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to
uphold the rule of law and ensure public safety,” said Devin Kowalski, acting special agent in charge. “Through this initiative, continued collaboration and intelligence-driven operations, we are supporting efforts to protect our communities, while adhering to our mission of upholding the Constitution.”
DEA officials emphasized the connection between illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations. Michael A. Miranda, special agent in charge of the DEA Caribbean Division, said his agency will “aggressively target those who pose a threat to our national security and the well-being of our citizens.” He warned that those using the Virgin Islands as a gateway for illicit activity will face “the full force of federal law enforcement.”
“The Drug Enforcement Administration remains resolute in its mission to protect the
U.S. Virgin Islands from the devastating impact of drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations. Through intelligence-driven investigations, collaborative enforcement operations, and strategic partnerships with our federal, state, and local counterparts, the DEA will aggressively target those who pose a threat to our national security and the well-being of our citizens. Additionally, we remain committed to supporting the efforts of the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security in apprehending and prosecuting criminal aliens involved in drug-related offenses. The message is clear: those who use or attempt to use our territory as a gateway for illicit activities will be met with the full force of federal law enforcement,” stated Michael A. Miranda, special agent in charge of DEA Caribbean Division.
“We stand in unison with our federal partners in this all-hands-on-deck approach to
stemming the tide of illegal immigration,” said Christopher A. Robinson, special agent in
charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Miami Field Division.
“Historically, the United States Marshals have played a crucial role in serving our
nation by apprehending and removing dangerous fugitives from our communities. In this
instance, we have teamed up with our federal law enforcement partners to focus on
apprehending non-U. S. citizens who have active criminal warrants. We are confident that these collaborative efforts will lead to safer communities and encourage all citizens to continue cooperating with our investigations to help locate these fugitives and bring them to justice,” said Kwesi Howard, Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of the Virgin Islands.
“The executive order aims to protect the United States from individuals who pose a
threat to public safety by committing crimes, and Homeland Security Investigations is dedicated to identifying and prosecuting individuals who are illegally present in the United States, ensuring they are swiftly removed to their home countries,” said Rebecca González-Ramos, special agent in charge.
“Every day CBP Officers are responsible for determining the admissibility of aliens arriving at our ports of entry. Foreign travelers requesting entry undergo an inspection and determination of admissibility to the United States, and if they are not admissible, they are
returned to their point of embarkation,” stated Roberto Vaquero, director of the San Juan
Office of Field Operations. “Our officers will continue to be vigilant in determining admissibility and will inspect authorized presence from passengers in domestic flights as they try to reach the Continental US.”
“The Ramey Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol remains steadfast in protecting our Caribbean borders and deter irregular migration attempts. U.S. immigration law makes it a crime to enter or attempt to enter without requesting admission at a port of entry designated for that purpose by immigration officials, and migrants should know that they will face full legal consequences of unlawful entry,” stated Reggie Johnson, chief patrol agent.
“Air and Marine Operations agents and assets will support implementation of the
executive order by enforcing immigration laws and protecting our borders from emerging
threats,” said Christopher Hunter, director of the Caribbean Air and Marine Branch. “AMO
will continue to safeguard our Nation by anticipating and confronting security threats through our aviation and maritime law enforcement expertise, innovative capabilities, and partnerships at the border and beyond.”
