ERO Boston arrests fugitive in Rhode Island wanted for homicide in Honduras

BOSTON — Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston arrested an unlawfully present fugitive being sought for homicide in Honduras who was found guilty of felony assault with a weapon and domestic violence, then released from court despite the existence of an active immigration detainer for his custody. Deportation officers from ERO Boston apprehended the 23-year-old Honduran national Feb. 27 in Providence, Rhode Island.

“This unlawfully present Honduran fugitive is wanted for homicide in his home country and has now been found guilty of violent criminal behavior here,” said ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons. “It is very disturbing that, despite the serious charges this fugitive faces and the existence of an active immigration detainer filed for his custody, he was released by the court back into the community. This case only highlights the importance of why ERO Boston seeks to cooperate with local communities to protect public safety in our region.”

The Honduran national first attempted to enter the United States unlawfully in January 2021 but was expelled under the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Title 42 emergency health order. Later that year, he unlawfully entered the United States at an unknown location without being admitted, inspected or paroled by a U.S. immigration official.

ICE has confirmed that he is being sought for homicide by law enforcement authorities in the city of El Progreso in the province of Yoro, Honduras.

In June 2023, Central Falls, Rhode Island police arrested the Honduran national and charged him with assault with a weapon — a felony charge that remains pending.

On Feb. 4, he was arrested by Central Falls police and charged with domestic violence and a bail violation on a previous arrest for felony assault with a weapon, which he later pleaded guilty to in the 6th District Court in Providence.

On Feb. 7, ERO Boston filed an immigration detainer for his custody with the Adult Correctional Institute in Cranston, Rhode Island. Despite the active immigration detainer, he was released into the community by the court. After becoming aware of his release, ERO Boston officers apprehended and arrested him without incident in Warwick, Rhode Island, Feb. 27.

He will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings and a future hearing before a federal immigration judge with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). EOIR is a separate entity from the Department of Homeland Security 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.

In fiscal year 2023, ERO made 170,590 administrative arrests, a 19.5% increase over the previous year. ERO arrested 73,822 noncitizens with a criminal history; those arrested had an average of four charges and convictions per individual, including more than 33,209 charges or convictions for assault, 7,520 for weapons offenses, 1,713 for homicide-related offenses, and 1,615 for kidnapping. Removals also included 3,406 known or suspected gang members, 139 known or suspected terrorists, seven human rights violators, and 108 foreign fugitives wanted by their governments for crimes including homicide, rape, terrorism and kidnapping. Also in fiscal year 2023, ERO conducted 142,580 removals to more than 170 countries worldwide.

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 the 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 crime and suspicious activity by calling 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, at @EROBoston.

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