Turkish citizen who violated Arms Export Control Act removed from US

PHILADELPHIA — Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Philadelphia removed Arif Ugur, a citizen of Turkey with a final order of removal, to Turkey on Nov. 20, 2023. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Office of the Principal Legal Advisor designated Ugur as a National Security Law Section case for violating the Arms Export Control Act.

Ugur lived in the United States since 2005. He was first arrested in Richmond, Virginia, and charged with wire fraud in 2021. In 2022, he was convicted of illegal exports of defense articles, conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act and wire fraud. An immigration judge with the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) ordered Ugur removed from the United States in 2022.

ERO Philadelphia encountered Ugur in March 2023 during a routine Criminal Apprehension Program operation. An immigration detainer and notice of action were lodged against Ugur, who was detained in October 2023 at the Clinton County Correctional Facility in McElhattan.

"We are committed to enforcing national security laws and protecting the American public," said ERO Philadelphia Field Office Director Cammilla Wamsley. "Arif Ugur’s removal is a clear message that the U.S. will not tolerate those who take advantage of U.S. immigration regulations in order to illegally profit from the U.S.’ generosity.”

ERO conducts removals of individuals without a lawful basis to remain in the United States, including at the order of immigration judges with the Justice Department’s EOIR. EOIR is a separate entity from DHS and ICE. Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case, determining if a noncitizen is subject to a final order of removal or eligible for certain forms of relief from removal.

As one of ICE’s three operational directorates, ERO is the principal federal law enforcement authority in charge of domestic immigration enforcement. ERO’s mission is to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of U.S. communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws, and its primary areas of focus are interior enforcement operations, management of the agency’s detained and non-detained populations, and repatriation of noncitizens who have received final orders of removal. ERO’s workforce consists of more than 7,700 law enforcement and non-law enforcement support personnel across 25 domestic field offices and 208 locations nationwide, 30 overseas postings, and multiple temporary duty travel assignments along the border. Members of the public can report crimes or suspicious activity by calling 866-347-2423 or completing ICE’s online tip form.

Learn more about ERO’s mission to increase public safety in your community on X, formerly known as Twitter, @EROPhiladelphia.

Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE.gov)