ERO Boston arrests fugitive wanted to serve prison sentence in Brazil

BOSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston arrested Fernando Rodrigues De Lima, a Brazilian fugitive wanted in his home country to finish serving a prison sentence for aggravated robbery and other crimes. Brazilian authorities released the 33-year-old from prison and expected him to serve over 10 years on probation, but he fled the country.

“ERO Boston will not have our community be a safe haven for foreign fugitives and criminals convicted of vicious crimes against others,” said ERO Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “Mr. Rodrigues De Lima was convicted of aggravated robbery with a firearm in his home country and is wanted for having violated the conditions of the sentence imposed by a court in Brazil. Our officers will not allow someone like this the opportunity to potentially commit similar crimes here in Massachusetts.”

Rodrigues has been placed in removal proceedings and remains in ICE custody. ERO removes noncitizens who have no lawful basis to remain in the U.S., including those who are subject to final removal orders from Department of Justice immigration judges working with the Executive Office for Immigration Review.

ERO is one of ICE’s three operational directorates and 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 can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

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