ERO Seattle arrests 13 noncitizens with drug-related convictions during nationwide law enforcement effort

SEATTLE — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Seattle arrested 13 unlawfully present noncitizens who have been convicted of drug trafficking or multiple drug possession related offenses involving illicit narcotics during a nationwide law enforcement effort that ran from March 11 - 26.

“Our communities have been tragically altered by drug overdose fatalities,” said ERO Seattle Field Office Director Drew H. Bostock. “Slowing the proliferation of dangerous, illegal narcotics through the arrest of noncitizen drug traffickers is one important way that ERO officers enhance public safety.”

Nationally, 216 arrests were made were made in this enforcement operation. This followed a nationwide enforcement effort in February when 275 individuals were arrested after presenting a threat to public safety. By using an intelligence-driven enforcement model, ERO Seattle makes an efficient use of limited resources to promote public safety in communities across the states of Alaska, Washington and Oregon.

Those arrested include:

• A 32-year-old citizen of Ecuador in Seattle, convicted of conspiracy to distribute heroin by the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington.
• A 35-year-old citizen of Mexico in Yakima, , convicted of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance by the United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio.
• A 40-year-old citizen of Honduras in Tacoma, Washington, convicted of distribution of a controlled substance, heroin by the Multnomah County Circuit Court in Oregon.
• A 47-year-old citizen of Venezuela in Beaverton, Oregon, of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamines by the United States District Court for the District of Oregon.
• A 47-year-old citizen of Mexico in Gresham, Oregon, convicted of transporting a controlled substance, possession of base/rock cocaine and possession of a controlled substance by the Superior Court of California in San Francisco.

ERO Seattle focuses on the arrest of noncitizens who have committed crimes and other individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws. Officers evaluate individuals on a case-by-case basis, assessing the totality of the facts and circumstances to make informed arrest determinations. Those cases amenable to federal criminal prosecution can be presented to the U.S. attorney's office. ERO also coordinates with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to evaluate the completion of relevant noncitizen applications.

In fiscal year 2023 ERO arrested 73,822 noncitizens with criminal histories; this group had 290,178 associated charges and convictions with an average of four per individual. These included 33,209 assaults; 4,390 sex and sexual assaults; 7,520 weapons offenses; 1,713 charges or convictions for homicide; and 1,655 kidnapping offenses.

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.

Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-347-2423 or completing the online tip form. Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in your community by following us on X, formerly known as Twitter, @EROSeattle.