ICE arrests Liberian man after detainer not honored
PHILADELPHIA – A 42-year old Liberian man was taken into custody on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017 by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Philadelphia. In October, he was released from the Curran Fromhold Correctional Facility (CFCF) with an active ICE detainer in place.
Holston Doe, a citizen of Liberia, entered the United States legally, on Feb. 25, 2004. Since that time, he has been convicted of several criminal convictions which render him removable from the country.
On Aug. 8, 2017, he was convicted in Delaware County of aggravated assault and local charges, and sentenced to 23 months incarceration and probation. ICE lodged a detainer on Doe, but Delaware County sent him to Philadelphia on outstanding criminal charges instead of releasing him to ICE. After his transfer, ICE lodged a detainer on Doe with the CFCF Aug. 8, 2017.
On Oct. 16, 2017, Doe was convicted of additional local charges in Philadelphia and sentenced to two years’ probation and required to register as a sex offender in Pennsylvania.
He was released from local custody, sometime after Oct. 16, 2017, without notification to ICE despite the fact that an active ICE detainer was in place with CFCF. Philadelphia is listed as a jurisdiction that has publicly limited cooperation with ICE and frequently ignores legally authorized detainers.
“When some law enforcement agencies fail to honor detainers and release serious criminal offenders, it undermines ICE’s ability to protect public safety and carry out its mission” said Simona Flores, field office director for ERO Philadelphia. “ERO officers are dedicated to keeping our communities safe and we will continue to arrest aliens that present public safety threat.”
Mr. Doe will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
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