ERO Boston removes fugitive wanted for weapons crimes in Brazil

BOSTON — Deportation officers with Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston removed an unlawfully present Brazilian fugitive from the United States to Brazil April 23. Ronaldo Marcos Da Silva, a 37-year-old Brazilian national who was wanted by authorities in his home country for unlawfully carrying restricted firearms, was removed to Brazil April 23.

“Ronaldo Marcos Da Silva attempted to flee a weapons conviction in his home country by hiding out in Massachusetts,” said ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons. “We will not allow our New England communities to become safe havens for criminals hoping to evade justice. ERO Boston will continue to prioritize the safety and security of our residents by apprehending and removing the most egregious noncitizen offenders from our New England communities.”

The 2nd Criminal Court of Caratinga in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, arraigned Da Silva April 14, 2012, for the offense of illegal carrying of restricted firearms. He then unlawfully entered the United States on an unknown date and at an unknown location without being inspected, admitted or paroled by a U.S. immigration official. Authorities arrested him near El Paso, Texas, on May 17, 2019. Da Silva was released on an order of recognizance May 21, 2019.

Da Silva was convicted by the 2nd Criminal Court of Caratinga of the Jury Tribunal of the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil Jan. 20, 2023, and he was sentenced to three years of incarceration. The 1st Criminal Court of Criminal Executions of Caratinga in Minas Gerais, Brazil, issued an arrest warrant for Da Silva Feb. 7, 2023.

Deportation officers from ERO Boston arrested Da Silva in Plymouth Sept. 12, 2023, and he was placed in custody pending the outcome of his removal proceedings. An immigration judge ordered Da Silva removed Feb. 23 and officers with ERO complied with the judge’s order and returned him to Brazil.

ERO conducts removals of individuals without a lawful basis to remain in the United States, including at the order of immigration judges with DOJ’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 are encouraged to 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.