ERO New York City arrests Guatemalan felon convicted of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death

NEW YORK — Officers from Enforcement and Removal Operations New York City’s Newburgh sub-office arrested a 31-year-old citizen of Guatemala convicted by Rockland County Court in New City, New York, of a felony by leaving the scene of an accident resulting in personal injury and death.

“Accidents happen, but failing to stop when you strike individuals with your vehicle is a conscious decision and cowardly act, especially when the force of impact was strong enough to cause fatalities as it did in this case,” said ERO New York City Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo. Our thoughts remain with the family of the victims at this time.”

The noncitizen entered the United States on an unknown date and at an unknown location without inspection, parole or admission by an immigration official.

On Feb. 23, 2022, the Guatemalan national was arrested for the crime of hit and run when he failed to stop after hitting two individuals with his vehicle resulting in one fatality. He was convicted of leaving the scene of the accident resulting in personal injury and death and was sentenced to six months incarceration and five years of probation.

On Dec. 12, 2023, ERO officers from the Newburgh sub-office arrested the noncitizen pursuant to a warrant for arrest in Stony Point, New York. He will remain in custody without bond pending removal proceedings.

Noncitizens placed into removal proceedings receive their legal due process from federal immigration judges in the immigration courts, which are administered by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). EOIR is an agency within the U.S. Department of Justice and is separate from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case. ICE officers carry out the removal decisions made by the federal immigration judges.

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 and suspicious activity by dialing 866-347-2423 or completing ICE’s online tip form.

Learn more about ERO New York City’s mission to preserve public safety on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ERONewYork.

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