10 year prison sentence for illegal reentry conviction announced by Office of US Attorney for Massachusetts, ERO Boston

BOSTON — An unlawfully present Brazilian citizen who formerly resided in New Bedford was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for illegal reentry Feb. 27 in Boston. The defendant is currently serving a sentence of 25 years to life for a 2016 murder conviction. He was previously convicted of armed assault to murder and domestic assault and battery.

Walter Gomes DaSilva, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley to an additional decade in prison following his current state sentence. In December 2019, DaSilva pleaded guilty in federal court to a one count of unlawful reentry.

“This sentence sends the right message to any who think they can violate our immigration laws with impunity and get away with it,” said ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons. “ERO Boston recognizes and appreciates the commitment of the office of U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts for its commitment to prosecuting immigration law violators like DaSilva, who was previously convicted of murder. Enforcement of federal immigration law increases the protection of public safety and protects our communities from the potential threat posed by individuals like this defendant.”

Immigration officials first removed DaSilva from the United States in 1999, after he was convicted of domestic assault and battery. Sometime after his removal, he illegally reentered the United States. In 2002, immigration officials encountered him after he was charged with armed assault to murder in Middlesex Superior Court. DaSilva was later convicted of that charge and was sentenced to eight to 10 years in prison. Upon completion of his sentence, DaSilva was placed into removal proceedings and removed again to Brazil in March 2012.

Sometime after his 2012 removal, DaSilva illegally reentered the United States a second time. In 2016, immigration officials encountered him after he was charged with murder in the Bristol Superior Court. He was later convicted of murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

“Enforcing this country’s immigration laws for dangerous individuals who commit crimes in this country and then return after deportation is critical to public safety. Mr. DaSilva will pay a serious price for the violence he inflicted on our community,” said acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy.

Lyons and Levy made the announcement Feb. 29. Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke A. Goldworm of the Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

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.