Immigrants accused of sexual assault, driving under the influence, burglary and domestic violence were among 37 arrested in a five-day "enforcement surge" in Middlesex County, immigration officials said Monday.

The 37 people arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement included 16 who were released by the the Middlesex County Jail, which is located in one of the New Jersey counties that has a policy of limiting cooperation with federal immigration officials.

"Middlesex County, which aspires to be a 'sanctuary county' by protecting criminal aliens, in the process assists criminals in undermining federal law, and creates a dangerous environment in the community," said Ruben Perez, acting field office director of Enforcement and Removal Operations in ICE's Newark office.

ICE has publicized similar round ups of immigrants in recent months to highlight other communities around the nation that have policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration officers.

In many of the cases, ICE had issued a "detainer" asking that the Middlesex County jail hold the immigrants until they could be picked up by federal immigration officials, federal officials said. But the jail released the immigrant without notifying ICE.

Middlesex County officials denied they are a "sanctuary county."

"To the contrary, Middlesex County has adopted a policy regarding interaction with ICE by county corrections and sheriff's department personnel which provides that the county will honor a detainer request from ICE if the inmate has previously been convicted of a first or second degree offense or was the subject of a Final Order of Deportation signed by a federal judge," county officials said in a statement.

"By honoring these detainer requests the county has as its primary goal the protection of the public safety of our residents," the statement added.

Under a policy adopted last year, Middlesex County authorities can refuse to honor ICE's two-day hold orders unless the immigrant was convicted of a first- or second-degree serious offense, including murder, drug distribution and carjacking and sex assault. So, inmates convicted of lesser crimes can be released unless ICE gets an order from a federal judge.

"ICE representatives have been repeatedly advised that the county will honor every order issued by a federal judge to detain an inmate," Middlesex County officials said. "ICE has the legal authority and the resources to secure such orders from a federal judge with regard to any inmate in the county's custody it seeks to detain or deport but has chosen not to seek such orders."

The 37 people arrested by ICE over the five-day period ranged age from 21 to 68. All were previously arrested or convicted on crimes including illegal entry, theft, hindering apprehension and endangering the welfare of a child.

They were from 13 foreign countries, including Mexico, Brazil, India, Peru and Turkey, ICE officials said.

ICE did not release the names or hometowns of those arrested. The agency also did not say if those arrested were living in the country legally or illegally.

Among those arrested, according to ICE: