ERO Boston removes fugitive wanted in Guatemala for assaulting public official, trafficking weapons

BOSTON — Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston removed a Guatemalan fugitive wanted by authorities in his home country for assaulting a public official, illegally transporting firearms and forging or altering a license plate. Officers with ERO Boston removed Victor Francisco Lopez-Padilla from the United States to Guatemala July 22 and turned him over to Guatemalan authorities.

“Victor Francisco Lopez-Padilla unlawfully came to the United States in an apparent attempt to escape justice in his home country, and then proceeded to break the law here,” said ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons. “Our officers returned him to Guatemalan authorities to face the law in his native land. ERO Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing egregious noncitizen offenders from our New England communities.”

U.S. Border Patrol arrested Lopez June 20, 2019, after he unlawfully entered the United States near San Luis, Arizona. Border Patrol officials served Lopez a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge. Later that day, officials released Lopez on an order of recognizance.

On Dec. 13, 2019, a DOJ immigration judge in San Francisco, California, ordered Lopez removed from the United States to Guatemala.

Guatemalan authorities issued a warrant for Lopez’s arrest Sept. 19, 2022, for the offenses of altered/forged license plates, illegal transport of firearms and assault of public official.

A federal grand jury in the District of Vermont indicted Lopez June 29, 2023, for human smuggling charges.

ERO officers arrested Lopez Aug. 1, 2023, in Trenton, New Jersey.

Lopez pled guilty to human smuggling charges July 12 at the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont. The court sentenced Lopez to time served. ERO Boston then took custody of Lopez.

ERO Guatemala and the Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement task force notified ERO Boston July 16 that Lopez was wanted by Guatemalan authorities.

Officers from ERO Boston removed Lopez from the United States to Guatemala July 22 and turned him over to Guatemalan authorities.

ERO conducts removals of individuals without a lawful basis to remain in the United States, including at the order of immigration judges with Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. The Executive Office for Immigration Review is a separate entity 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, determining if a noncitizen is subject to a final order of removal or eligible for certain forms of relief from removal.

Members of the public with information regarding noncitizen offenders can report crimes or suspicious activity by dialing the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

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.

Learn more about ERO Boston’s mission to increase public safety in our New England communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @EROBoston.

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