ERO Boston arrests fugitive wanted by Brazilian authorities for drug trafficking, robbery charges

BOSTON — Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston apprehended a Brazilian national wanted by authorities in his home country for charges of drug trafficking and robbery by intimidation or violence. Deportation officers arrested the 32-year-old Brazilian fugitive during a vehicle stop in Framingham May 17.

“This Brazilian fugitive attempted to flee justice in his home county and hide out in Massachusetts,” said ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons. “He represents a significant threat to the residents of our neighborhoods. We will not allow New England to become a safe haven for the world’s criminals. ERO Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by apprehending and removing egregious noncitizen offenders from our communities.”

A Brazilian court convicted the Brazilian noncitizen of two counts of two counts of drug trafficking and one count of robbery by intimidation/violence on May 29, 2017. The court sentenced him to a total of 17 years and six months in prison for the three convictions.

A Brazilian court issued an arrest warrant for the Brazilian fugitive Nov. 25, 2022.

U.S. Border Patrol arrested him March 16, 2023, after he and his family unlawfully entered the United States near Lukeville, Arizona. Border Patrol officials issued the family a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge and released them on an order of recognizance.

On Jan. 9, U.S. authorities learned that the Brazilian fugitive was wanted in his home country for drug trafficking and robbery offenses.

Deportation officers from ERO Boston arrested the 32-year-old during a vehicle stop in Framingham May 17. He will remain in ERO 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 Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). EOIR is a separate entity from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (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.

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.

Members of the public with information regarding child sex 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.

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