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January 25, 2023Boston, MA, United StatesEnforcement and Removal

ERO Boston arrests twice-removed fugitive in New Hampshire wanted for human trafficking in Honduras

BOSTON — Officers with Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston arrested a noncitizen fugitive with an active arrest warrant in Honduras for human trafficking charges in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Jan. 17.

New Hampshire State Police arrested Ronal Rodriguez-Fuentes, a 40-year-old Honduran citizen, for vehicular violations. At the time of his arrest, Rodriguez was the subject of an active criminal warrant in Honduras for human trafficking charges.

First arrested by U.S. Border Patrol in Texas after entering the United States unlawfully on April 4, 1999, Rodriguez received a final order of removal from an immigration judge and was removed in May 2008. In April 2019, Rodriguez illegally reentered the United States a second time and U.S. Border Patrol encountered him again. He received a second final order of removal from an immigration judge and was removed for the second time in August 2019. The New Hampshire State Police encountered Rodriguez in Manchester, New Hampshire, in January 2023 and arrested him for operating a vehicle without a valid license.

“We’re very thankful for the strong support of the New Hampshire State Police as well as our Honduran law enforcement partners for their cooperation in helping us identify this fugitive alleged human trafficker who has repeatedly violated U.S. immigration law and is wanted in Honduras on an active arrest warrant for human trafficking,” said ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd Lyons. “ERO Boston is committed to working with state, local and federal partners to identify, arrest and remove foreign fugitives who participate in dangerous human trafficking criminal networks that exploit victims from across the world, including many from Central America as well as here in New England. We will continue to do our part in the fight against the deadly business of human trafficking by helping apprehend those who prey on vulnerable populations through these criminal networks.”

ICE will seek to remove Rodriguez, who remains in ICE custody pending immigration proceedings. ERO officers make enforcement decisions on a case-by-case basis 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.

Noncitizens placed into removal proceedings receive their legal due process from federal immigration judges in the immigration courts, which are administered by the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). EOIR is an agency within the U.S. Department of Justice and is separate from the Department of Homeland Security and ICE. Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case. ICE officers carry out the removal decisions made by the federal immigration judges.

In fiscal year 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.

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 150 countries worldwide.

Members of the public can report crimes or suspicious activity by calling 866-347-2423 or completing ICE’s online tip form.

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