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April 21, 2021Chicago, IL, United StatesEnforcement and Removal

ICE officers arrest citizen of the Czech Republic in Illinois

ICE officers arrest citizen of the Czech Republic in Illinois

CHICAGO — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers arrested a Czech Republic national convicted of attempted homicide and other crimes outside his residence in Lyons, Illinois April 19.

Tomas Ruckschlos, 34, was released into the community after serving time in prison for his crimes, without notification to ICE.

“Illinois is safer today as a result of ICE officers removing this violent offender from the community, our highly trained officers involved were able to make this arrest without incident,” said Henry Lucero, field office director, ERO Chicago. “ICE will continue to prioritize and target criminals who threaten the public safety of our local-area communities.”

Ruckschlos lawfully entered the United States in 1996. He was convicted of attempted murder and served just under a year in prison. Shortly after his release from prison he was convicted of aggravated discharge of firearm in 2006, and sentenced to six more years in prison by the Circuit Court of Cook County.

The ERO Special Response Team (SRT) was activated to arrest Ruckschlos due to his violent background. SRT members are trained to serve high-risk warrants under hazardous conditions, escort dangerous criminals who have been ordered deported and assist local law enforcement agencies during critical incidents.

ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations will process Ruckschlos for an upcoming immigration hearing, and he will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of the hearing.

ICE is now implementing the interim civil immigration enforcement priorities directed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to focus its limited resources on threats to national security, border security and public safety. ICE continues to carry out its duty to enforce the laws of the United States in accordance with the Department’s national security and public safety mission.

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