ERO Boston arrests Brazilian fugitive wanted for rape of a minor

BOSTON — Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston arrested a 40-year-old unlawfully present fugitive being sought by law enforcement authorities in Brazil for statutory rape of a minor. Deportation officers from ERO Boston apprehended the Brazilian national Feb.14 near his residence in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

“In addition to violating our immigration laws, this unlawfully present fugitive is wanted for the rape of a minor in his home country,” said ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons. “Such individuals present a danger to the safety of the residents in our New England communities. ERO Boston remains dedicated to apprehending, arresting and removing any such threat to our neighborhoods.”

The Brazilian national entered the U.S. as a tourist in March 2022. He remained in the United States for more than a year beyond the legally authorized time period.

Brazilian authorities have sought custody of the Brazilian national since June 2022 for the offense of statutory rape, which is defined under Brazilian law as consensual sexual contact with a person under age 14. He is wanted by a criminal court in the province of Parana, Brazil. The charges remain pending.

After becoming aware of the Brazilian citizen’s presence in New England, deportation officers with ERO Boston located, apprehended and arrested him. He will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

ERO conducts removals of individuals without a lawful basis to remain in the United States, including at the order of immigration judges with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). EOIR is a separate entity from DHS 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.