ERO Baltimore arrests Dominican national convicted of human trafficking
BALTIMORE — Deportation officers with the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Baltimore field office apprehended a Dominican national convicted of human trafficking, Jan. 5. ERO Baltimore’s fugitive operations took Miguel Almonte, 42, into custody in Fairmount Heights.
Almonte originally entered the United States in December 2000 on a visa. In February 2013, he was convicted of engaging in prostitution.
In August 2021, Almonte was convicted of human trafficking. He received a sentence of 10 years in prison, with all but a year and a half suspended, to be followed by five years’ probation.
“The women and men of ERO Baltimore work tirelessly to remove those who would subjugate others,” said ERO Baltimore Field Office Director Lyle Boelens. “Ending human trafficking is of the highest importance to ICE and to all its employees. Our deportation officers play a critical role in stopping this modern-day slavery.”
Upon apprehension by ERO Baltimore, officers served Almonte with a Notice to Appear; he is currently in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody.
Regardless of nationality, ICE makes custody determinations on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with U.S. law and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policy, considering the individual merits and factors of each case. ICE officers make associated decisions and apply prosecutorial discretion in a responsible manner, informed by their experience as law enforcement professionals and in a way that best protects against the greatest threats to the homeland.
In fiscal year (FY) 2022, ERO arrested 46,396 noncitizens with criminal histories; this group had 198,498 associated charges and convictions. These included 21,531 assault offenses; 8,164 sex and sexual assault offenses; 5,554 weapons offenses; 1,501 homicide-related offenses; and 1,114 kidnapping offenses.
Members of the public can report crimes and/or 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 Twitter at @EROBaltimore.
ERO, a directorate of ICE, upholds U.S. immigration law at, within, and beyond our borders. ERO operations target public safety threats, such as convicted criminal noncitizens and gang members, who have violated our nation's immigration laws, including those who illegally re-enter the country after being removed and immigration fugitives ordered removed by federal immigration judges. ERO deportation officers assigned to Interpol also assist in targeting foreign fugitives for crimes committed abroad at-large in the U.S. ERO manages all aspects of the immigration enforcement process, including identification and arrest, detention, bond management, supervised release, transportation, and removal. Additionally, ERO repatriates noncitizens ordered removed from the U.S. to more than 170 countries worldwide.
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