ERO Washington, D.C. arrests Honduran felon with multiple convictions in US
WASHINGTON - Deportation officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington, D.C. field office arrested a Honduran citizen and felon with numerous convictions in the United States. ERO Washington, D.C.’s Criminal Prosecutions and Special Response Team apprehended Juan Jose Meija-Ramirez, 42, in Alexandria, Virginia, Dec. 19.
Mejia-Ramirez was wanted for illegal re-entry into the United States.
“Juan Jose Mejia-Ramirez has displayed a pattern of disregard for the American legal system – not only by consistently breaking our laws, but also by repeatedly and unlawfully crossing our borders,” said ICE ERO Assistant Director for Enforcement Chris Cronen. “The dedicated officers who make up ICE ERO have proven time and time again that we are committed to the arrest and removal of any unlawfully present criminal who is looking to endanger the lives of the individuals we have sworn to protect. ICE ERO continues our mission to protect our communities through the enforcement of immigration law against those who present a danger to our national security, are a threat to public safety, or who otherwise undermine the integrity of our immigration system.”
ICE ERO previously removed Mejia-Ramirez from the United States to Honduras in May 2009, November 2013, and June 2018.
Mejia-Ramirez entered the U.S. on an unknown date, at an unknown location, and without being admitted or inspected by an immigration official.
Mejia-Ramirez had three criminal convictions in Fairfax County, Virginia, in 2001 for manufacturing, sale, and/or possession of fictitious operator’s license; felony breaking and entering with intent to commit felony; and discharging a firearm or missile in or at an occupied building.
In 2003, Mejia-Ramirez was convicted in Fairfax County, Virginia, of prostitution or solicitation of a prostitute.
In 2009, Meija-Ramirez was convicted in Fairfax County, Virginia of driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol content of .15-.20%. ERO removed Mejia-Ramirez from the U.S. upon the completion of his sentence.
In 2011 and 2016, Mejia-Ramirez was convicted of illegal re-entry into the U.S. ERO again removed Mejia-Ramirez from the U.S. upon the completion of his sentences.
ERO Washington processed Mejia-Ramirez as a Reinstatement of Prior Order of Removal and remanded him to the custody of the United States Marshals Service for criminal prosecution in the Eastern District of Virginia.
Following the disposition of his criminal charges, ERO intends to remove Mejia-Ramirez from the United States to Honduras.
ICE 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.
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, or 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. Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers carry out the removal decisions made by the federal immigration judges.
In fiscal year 2021, ERO arrested 12,025 individuals with aggravated felony convictions. Offenses associated with noncitizens arrested in FY 2021 included 1,506 homicide related offenses, 3,415 sexual assaults, 19,549 assaults, 2,717 robberies and 1,063 kidnappings.
ICE’s ERO directorate 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 reentered 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 cases of those who are wanted for crimes committed abroad and who are now at-large in the United States. ERO manages all aspects of the immigration enforcement process, including identification and arrest, detention, bond management, supervised release, transportation and removal. In addition, ERO repatriates noncitizens ordered removed from the United States. to more than 170 countries around the world.
Members of the public can report crimes and/or suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in your community on Twitter at @EROWashington.
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