ICE deports Costa Rican man wanted on assault charges
PHILADELPHIA — A Costa Rican man wanted in his home country on assault charges was turned over to authorities there Dec. 19, 2016, by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
Luis Giralt, 40, is named in an Interpol red notice, charging him with assault. According to Costa Rican authorities, in August 2007, Giralt assaulted a victim outside of a bar in San Jose, Costa Rica, causing injuries that required medical attention.
On Aug. 4, 2012, Giralt entered the United States legally as a tourist before violating the terms of his visa.
On Aug. 10, 2012, the Internal Revenue Service arrested Giralt in New York, and charged him with conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was later convicted on the charge and sentenced to nearly five years in federal prison. He was placed into ICE custody at the conclusion of his prison term, while the agency finalized his removal.
Upon his arrival in San Jose, Costa Rica, ERO Philadelphia officers turned Giralt over to Costa Rican authorities.
“ERO will continue to identify, arrest, and focus on the removal of high-priority aliens who threaten our communities,” said Tom Decker, ERO Philadelphia field office director.
Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 1,700 foreign fugitives from the United States who were sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder. ERO works with the ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Office of International Operations, foreign consular offices in the United States, and Interpol to identify foreign fugitives illegally present in the United States. Members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives are urged to contact ICE by calling the ICE tip line at 1 (866) 347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also file a tip online by completing ICE’s online tip form.
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