A woman accused of child endangerment is being held without bail at the Ocean County Jail following her arrest on May 26, 2025. Lizbeth Diaz Gonzalez, 27, faces charges related to the endangerment of a child under New Jersey’s Statute 2C:24-4A. The charge comes after an incident in which Gonzalez reportedly failed to ensure the safety and welfare of a minor in her care. She is currently being detained with an open detainer from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The arrest has garnered attention due to the combination of criminal charges and an ICE detainer. According to local law enforcement officials, Gonzalez’s case is being handled by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, though they have not released further details regarding the specifics of the child endangerment allegations. As of now, she remains in custody at the Ocean County Jail, where she awaits her next court appearance.
Endangerment Charges
The charge of child endangerment carries serious implications, particularly under New Jersey Statute 2C:24-4A, which criminalizes any conduct that endangers the physical or emotional well-being of a child. This statute applies to individuals who, through acts of omission or commission, place a child in harm’s way. The severity of the charge in this case is aggravated by the alleged failure to provide a safe environment for the child in question, though further specifics regarding the nature of the endangerment have not been made public.
Child endangerment charges can lead to severe consequences, including imprisonment, substantial fines, and other penalties upon conviction. As of now, Gonzalez is being held without bail, which indicates the seriousness of the charges against her. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office is expected to provide more information about the case in the coming days.
ICE Detainer
In addition to the child endangerment charge, Gonzalez is being held on an active ICE detainer. ICE, a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, issues detainers to local authorities when they wish to take custody of an individual involved in immigration violations or other legal matters concerning non-citizens. In this case, Gonzalez, who is not a U.S. citizen, has been flagged for deportation proceedings under the detainer.
An ICE detainer is a request for local authorities to hold an individual beyond their regular detention period, typically for 48 hours, to allow for further processing by immigration officials. This means that, in addition to facing charges related to child endangerment, Gonzalez could be subject to deportation proceedings once her legal matters in New Jersey are resolved.
The ICE detainer remains open, with no specified date for deportation proceedings. Gonzalez’s immigration status could complicate the legal process, as she could face both criminal charges and the possibility of removal from the United States.
Ocean County Jail and Legal Process
Gonzalez is currently being held at the Ocean County Jail, a facility that handles individuals involved in both local criminal cases and those facing federal immigration enforcement. The jail has a long history of cooperation with ICE to enforce immigration detainers, though the practice has faced scrutiny from some local communities concerned about the potential for civil rights violations.
Local officials have not yet disclosed whether Gonzalez’s case is part of a larger trend of increased ICE involvement in the county or if it is an isolated incident. However, the jail is a primary location for individuals facing both criminal charges and immigration violations in the area.
As Gonzalez’s case progresses, it is expected that her legal team will challenge both the criminal charges and the ICE detainer. Attorneys representing Gonzalez may argue for her release on bail or request that the detainer be lifted while she faces the charges in state court.
Implications for Local Immigration Policies
This case highlights ongoing debates surrounding local law enforcement’s role in enforcing federal immigration laws. The intersection of child endangerment charges and immigration enforcement underscores the complexities of the legal system in cases involving non-citizens. As more localities in the United States review their policies regarding ICE detainers, some are opting for sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
New Jersey, however, has seen mixed responses to such policies. While some jurisdictions have embraced cooperation with ICE, others have sought to limit local law enforcement’s involvement in federal immigration matters. This case in Ocean County could serve as a critical example for future discussions on the role of local law enforcement in immigration enforcement.
