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ICE issued a detainer on Esen Sarabe, who remained held in the Bergen County Jail.
Sarabe fled with the 52-year-old victim's phone and bag after a good Samaritan came running during the attack at Passaic and 1st streets around 3 p.m. Monday, city police Detective Capt. Michael Antista said.
Police captured him a short time later and recovered the victim's valuables and the knife, Antista said.
The woman wasn't injured, the captain added.
In addition to first-degree counts of kidnapping and robbery, Sarabe is charged with making terroristic threats and weapons possession.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement places detainers on immigrants believed to be illegally living in the United States. Federal judges in Newark hold hearings before determining whether they'll be deported.
Bergen County Sheriff Anthony Cureton has honored detainer requests for defendants who've been charged with or convicted of felonies but not for those seized solely for possible deportation.
Sarabe fits the sheriff's qualifications for detention until ICE decides how it will proceed.
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