Former ICE employee convicted of accepting bribes, lying to investigators

A former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer was convicted by a federal jury last week on charges of accepting cash bribes and sexual favors in exchange for providing employment authorization documents and concealing the employment of an undocumented migrant at a hair salon he owned.

Arnaldo Echevarria was convicted after a one-week trial in Somerset, New Jersey. The jury deliberated for one day before issuing their decision.

Echevarria, while serving as an ICE deportation officer, agreed to obtain employment authorization documents for undocumented migrants who were not lawfully present in the United States. For his services, the former officer demanded approximately $75,000 in cash bribes and various sexual favors from at least one individual. Echevarria also falsely claimed that those undocumented migrants had been granted temporary protective status when none of the migrants in question even applied for protective status.

Echevarria also ensured that his girlfriend, who was present in the country illegally, remained undiscovered by putting his name on her apartment lease, cable bill and electric bill. The former officer also paid his salon employees in cash and never asked them to fill out employment eligibility paperwork.

Echevarria’s six charges of accepting bribes carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. His charges of harboring undocumented migrants and making false statements are each punishable by a maximum penalty of five years in prison or a $250,000 fine.

“This investigation of a former ICE employee underscores our commitment to aggressively identify, investigate and purse all allegations of corruption to ensure the protection our borders and maintain the integrity of the agency,” Special Agent in Charge of ICE OPE – Northeast Region Keith Barwick said. “This verdict sends a strong message that those who exploit their positions and our nation’s legal immigration system will be held accountable and face severe consequences.”