NEW BRUNSWICK -- Two undocumented immigrants who the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had ordered to held for deportation were released from the Middlesex County jail in April without the telling the agency, ICE officials said.

The Honduran national and Mexican citizen were picked up by ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations a month later and remain in custody awaiting deportation, according to an agency release.

"ICE shares the county's ultimate objective to protect public safety and national security while simultaneously preserving the critical community-police bond," John Tsoukaris, ERO Newark field office director, said in a release. "However, counties such as Middlesex that fail to work with ICE in the transfer of custody of criminal aliens, place the citizens of their communities at serious risk."

ICE filed an immigration detainer for Elder Antonio Quintero Rodriguez in April 2016 for his felony conviction of neglect of a child, according to the release. He was released May 19, ICE officials said.

A detainer was issued for Rolando Herrera Saavedra, a Mexican citizen, on April 21, authorities said. A week later, Saavedra was released from jail, officials said. He is facing state criminal charges, which were not disclosed.

Rodriguez was arrested in New Brunswick on May 30, and Saavedra was picked up in Long Branch on May 24, according to the release.

Middlesex County officials did not immediately respond to a call requesting comment.

Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig and on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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