ERO New York City removes foreign fugitive wanted in Ecuador for rape of a minor
NEW YORK — Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) New York City removed Jorge Enrique Mogrovejo, an unlawfully present noncitizen wanted in Ecuador for the rape of a minor on July 13.
Mogrovejo, 59, departed Alexandria International Airport in Alexandria, Louisiana, via an ICE Air Operations charter flight and arrived at José Joaquín de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Upon arrival, ERO turned Mogrovejo over to the proper authorities.
“ERO New York City will not allow our communities to be safe havens for individuals fleeing justice in their home countries,” said ERO New York City Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo. “We will work tirelessly to protect the law-abiding residents of New York from criminals such as Mr. Mogrovejo who seek to exploit our immigration laws to evade prosecution for their crimes.”
Mogrovejo entered the United States in Miami, Florida, on Aug. 2, 2017, and was supposed to leave the country by Feb. 1, 2018, but remained past that date, violating the terms of his admission.
Mogrovejo is wanted in his home country for raping a minor. On Oct. 20, 2022, ERO New York City and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Newark apprehended him and ERO New York City issued him a notice to appear for overstaying his visa. On May 2, 2023, an immigration judge ordered Mogrovejo removed from the United States to Ecuador.
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. ERO officers carry out the removal decisions made by the federal immigration judges.
ERO officers make enforcement decisions on a case-by-case basis in a professional and responsible manner, informed by their experience as law enforcement officials and in a way that best protects against the greatest threats to the homeland and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws.
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.
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.
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 City’s mission to preserve public safety on Twitter @ERONewYork.
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