ERO Boston removes international fugitive wanted for questioning in Ecuadoran child rape case

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston removed Adrian Patricio Huerta-Nivelo, a 25-year-old Ecuadoran national wanted for questioning following the rape of a minor, invasion of privacy and a violation of exit prohibition in his home country, on Dec. 3.

“This fugitive was a person of interest in a particularly heinous criminal case in his home country,” said ERO Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “ERO Boston works closely with domestic and international partners, so when our officers discovered Huerta-Nivelo was unlawfully present in the United States and was wanted in Ecuador, they arrested him near his residence in Northampton. A Department of Justice immigration judge ordered him removed, and ERO Boston did so on Dec. 3.”

U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested Huerta-Nivelo June 4, 2021, in San Luis, Arizona, when he unlawfully entered the U.S. He was issued a notice to appear before an immigration judge and released under an order of recognizance the same day.

ERO Boston’s Foreign Fugitive Apprehension Unit arrested Huerta-Nivelo June 12 after confirming he was wanted in Ecuador. He remained in ERO custody during his immigration proceedings, and an immigration judge on Oct. 22 ordered him removed to Ecuador. ERO Boston carried out the judge’s order Dec. 3 and handed him over to Ecuadoran authorities.

ERO removes noncitizens who have no lawful basis to remain in the United States, including those with removal orders from Department of Justice immigration judges. The Executive Office for Immigration Review, which is part of the Department of Justice, is a separate entity from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Immigration judges in these courts make case-by-case decisions to determine if a noncitizen is subject to a final order of removal or eligible for certain forms of immigration relief.

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.

You can report crimes and suspicious activity by calling 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.