ERO Boston removes fugitive wanted for murder in Honduras
Unlawfully present man previously convicted of aggravated assault
Martinez is transferred to law enforcement authorities at Ramon Villeda Morales Airport in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, on March 27.
BOSTON — Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston deportation officers removed an unlawfully present Honduran national wanted for homicide in his home country on March 27.
Eric Jose Martinez Lopez, 33, is wanted for murder by Honduran law enforcement authorities. Martinez has also been convicted and sentenced to four years in prison for aggravated assault in New Jersey.
“I continue to be impressed by the professionalism of our ERO Boston team and valued partners who dedicate their lives to increasing public safety,” said ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd Lyons. “This violent convicted criminal has no place in our community and has forfeited his right to remain here. The public can rest a bit easier now knowing that he has been removed to his country to face justice.”
Martinez legally entered the United States in 2014 but failed to comply with the terms of his admission. In February 2018, officers with ERO Newark encountered Martinez at the Atlantic County Jail in Mays Landing, New Jersey, where officials were holding him following his arrest on charges of aggravated assault and attempt to cause serious bodily injury. ERO Newark lodged an immigration detainer for Martinez pending resolution of the charges against him.
In October 2019, Martinez was convicted of the aggravated assault charges and sentenced to four years in state prison by the Superior Court of New Jersey in Atlantic County. In November 2020, the New Jersey Department of Corrections transferred Martinez to ERO Newark’s custody.
On April 28, 2021, a federal immigration judge with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review issued a final order of removal from the United States for Martinez.
In fiscal year 2022, ERO arrested 46,396 noncitizens with criminal histories. This group had 198,498 associated charges and convictions, including 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.
The ERO Boston field office covers six states of the New England region, including Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine.
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 can report crimes 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 @EROBoston.
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