ERO Seattle removes Russian national wanted on charges of child exploitation

SEATTLE — Officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Seattle removed Igor Lekomtsev, 45, a citizen of Russia, Jan. 26. Lekomtsey is wanted in his home country for charges related to child exploitation.

Lekomtsev entered the United States April 12, 2017, with a tourist visa. On July 7, 2020, ERO Seattle arrested him after discovering that he was wanted in his home country.

“Fortunately, ERO officers were able to arrest this individual and determine that he was wanted in Russia for a particularly disturbing crime,” said ERO Seattle Field Office Director Drew H. Bostock. “Noncitizens will not hide from their victims within the U.S., and it is these types of removals that allow ERO to protect communities across the nation.”

In fiscal year 2023, ERO arrested 73,822 noncitizens with criminal histories; this group had 290,178 associated charges and convictions with an average of four per individual. These included 33,209 assaults; 4,390 sex and sexual assaults; 7,520 weapons offenses; 1,713 charges or convictions for homicide; and 1,655 kidnapping offenses.

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 the online tip form.

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

The Seattle area of responsibility covers Washington, Oregon and Alaska.

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