Two Israeli men arrested in separate complaints on immigration charges

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Elazar Wigdorowitz, 33, and Israel Enden, 46, both citizens of Israel, were arrested and charged in separate complaints. Wigdorowitz is charged with improper entry by alien, which carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison. Enden is charged with bringing in and harboring certain aliens, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan W. Fitzgerald, who is handling the case, stated according to the complaints, in the early morning hours of January 08, 2026, defendant Enden stated to Customs and Border Protection officers, at the Rainbow Bridge Port of Entry, that he was a United States citizen residing in Israel and was traveling to New York City to visit friends and family. He also stated that the vehicle he was driving was rented by a friend, but he did not have a rental agreement. Asked is he had anything to declare, Enden said no. He was then referred to secondary inspection. During the secondary inspection, officers noticed multiple pieces of luggage in the back of the vehicle. As an officer began removing the luggage, she noticed what appeared to be a person’s back. The remaining luggage was removed and officers discovered defendant Wigdorowitz.

During secondary inspection, officers discovered that Wigdorowitz had obtained a visa in 2010, which was revoked in 2017 due to his criminal history in Israel. Wigdorowitz’s visa was then refused in 2023 because of his criminal history in Israel, which includes convictions for conspiracy to commit a felony, assault, extortion, threats, false imprisonment, and malicious damage to a vehicle. In addition, pending charges include receipt of an item by deceit, conspiracy to defraud, forgery with intent, use of a forged document, fabricating evidence, and obstruction of justice. On January 5, 2026, Wigdorowitz attempted to apply for Electronic System for Travel Authorization but was denied. The complaint further states that according to Wigdorowitz, he in the back of the vehicle because he wanted to visit his rabbi’s grave in the United States. Ended stated that he didn’t know Wigdorowitz was in the vehicle.

Wigdorowitz and Enden made initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and were detained. 

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

The complaints are the result of an investigation by Customs and Border Protection under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Erin Keegan.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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