ERO New York City arrests unlawfully present Pakistani fugitive wanted in Brazil for active corruption of a public official
NEW YORK — On Oct. 11, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) New York City apprehended an international fugitive wanted by Brazilian authorities for prosecution in Brazil for the crime of active corruption of a public official. The 32-year-old citizen of Pakistan and permanent resident of Brazil was arrested without incident outside his residence in Queens.
“ERO New York City continues to protect communities by apprehending foreign fugitives who attempt to seek refuge in the United States after committing crimes in other countries,” said ERO New York City Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo. “ERO remains committed to pursuing noncitizen criminals and repatriating them to their countries of citizenship or legal residence.”
On Aug. 26, 2014, the Department of State post in Islamabad, Pakistan, refused to issue the noncitizen a nonimmigrant B1/B2 visa.
The U.S. Border Patrol arrested the noncitizen April 5, 2016, at or near Calexico, California, and served him with a notice and order of expedited removal charging him with removability as an immigrant without a valid, unexpired immigrant visa, reentry permit, border crossing card or other valid entry document required by the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Between 2016 and 2023, the noncitizen was out on bond as he proceeded through the immigration process.
On March 7, 2023, the assistant attache to Brazil provided ERO New York City with information pertaining to the noncitizen’s international fugitive status. Fugitive Operations officers from ERO New York City arrested the noncitizen on Oct. 11, 2023, and cancelled his bond. He will remain in custody pending continuation of his removal proceedings.
Noncitizens placed into removal proceedings receive their legal due process from federal immigration judges in the immigration courts, which are administered by DOJ’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 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE). Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case. ERO 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 is a directorate of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and 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 and suspicious activity by dialing 866-347-2423 or completing ICE’s online tip form.
Learn more about ERO New York’s mission to preserve public safety on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ERONewYork.
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