ERO San Antonio returned fugitive wanted for aggravated theft, arson and criminal organization in his home country
SAN ANTONIO — Officers with Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) San Antonio returned an unlawfully present foreign fugitive wanted in Paraguay for theft, arson and criminal organization on April 17.
Armando Cesar Zacarias, 37, is accused of starting a fire and robbing the Itapuense Municipality in Paraguay.
“Dangerous criminals wanted in their home countries will find no refuge in the United States,” said ERO San Antonio acting Field Office Director Sylvester M. Ortega. “Our officers will continue to identify, arrest, detain and remove noncitizens who pose the greatest threat to homeland security.”
On Sept. 11, 2022, Zacarias was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol near Eagle Pass and held in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. During his removal proceedings, ERO San Antonio received notification from the assistant attaché for removal that Zacarias was the subject of an active foreign arrest warrant in Paraguay. On Feb. 8, an immigration judge granted Zacarias a voluntary departure under safeguards.
On April 17, ERO San Antonio deportation officers escorted Zacarias to Paraguay, where he was transferred into the custody of Paraguay law enforcement officials without incident.
Members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives are urged to contact ICE by calling the ICE Tip Line at 866-347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also file a tip online by completing ICE’s online tip form.
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.
As one of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) three operational directorates, Enforcement and Removal Operations (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.
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