ERO New York City arrests Albanian fugitive wanted for fraud
NEW YORK — Officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) New York City field office arrested Gazmir Xhurxhi, Jan. 9. Xhurxhi is a noncitizen who overstayed his visa in the United States and is wanted for fraud in Albania.
On Oct. 3, 2018, U.S. Customs and Border Protection admitted Xhurxhi into the United States in New York as a nonimmigrant visitor with authorization to remain in the United States for a temporary period not to exceed April 2, 2019. Xhurxhi remained in the United States beyond that date without authorization.
The Court of Tirana, Albania convicted Xhurxhi of fraud pursuant to Article 142/2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Albania and sentenced him to 1 year and 4 months imprisonment, May 8, 2019. On July 12, 2022, ERO New York prepared a Notice to Appear for Xhurxhi charging removability pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act, in that after admission as a nonimmigrant, he remained in the United States for a time longer than permitted.
ERO New York arrested Xhurxhi without incident outside his residence in Brooklyn, Jan. 9. Xhurxhi is currently detained in ICE custody, without bond, pending removal proceedings.
“Our officers are to be commended for pursuing and arresting this foreign fugitive from justice,” said ERO New York City Acting Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo. “The U.S. will not be a haven for those seeking to escape justice for their crimes.”
ERO officers make enforcement decisions on a case-by-case basis in 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 (FY) 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 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, as well as individuals who have otherwise violated our nation's immigration laws, including those who illegally re-entered 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 or Fugitive Arrest and Removal (FAR) cases 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, as well as transportation and removal. In addition, ERO repatriates noncitizens ordered removed from the U.S. to more than 170 countries around the world.
Members of the public can report crimes or suspicious activity by calling 866-347-2423 or completing ICE’s online tip form.
Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in your community on Twitter @ERONewYork.
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