Officials from ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) team reported that they apprehended a 35-year-old fugitive last month in Lanham who was in the country illegally and wanted back home. The deportation officers from Enforcement and Removal Operations Baltimore conducted the operation.
In September 2011, the Colombian faced an arrest on charges of attempted aggravated homicide. After a lengthy legal battle, he was convicted in court of aggravated homicide in May 2017 and handed a sentence of 17 years.
On June 22, 2022, the US Border Patrol apprehended a Colombian fugitive for illegally crossing the border near San Luis, Arizona. The fugitive was subsequently given a notice to appear before the Department of Justice.
He was enrolled in the “Alternatives to Detention” program later that day, leading to his release. However, the suspect failed to appear in court and fled to Colombia before eventually returning to Laurel.
As of Wednesday, July 26, the authorities have the Colombian in custody after successfully tracking him down last month. He is currently being held by ERO.
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) works in collaboration with the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) to carry out the removal of individuals who are found to have no lawful basis to stay in the United States. This can be done at the request of immigration judges with the Justice Department’s EOIR.
According to ERO Baltimore Field Office Director Matthew Elliston, Colombian authorities are searching for a fugitive who has been convicted of aggravated homicide in his home country. Instead of serving his prison sentence, the fugitive chose to evade justice and seek refuge in Maryland.
At ERO Baltimore, we are committed to ensuring that our Maryland communities do not become a safe haven for criminals from around the world. Our top priority is public safety, and we will work tirelessly to arrest and remove any noncitizen offenders who pose a significant risk to our neighborhoods.