ICE removes Albanian national wanted to serve a 25-year prison sentence in his home country
NEW YORK — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) deportation officers removed an Albanian national Monday, who is wanted in his home country to serve a 25-year prison sentence for theft resulting in death and illegal possession of firearms.
Arlind Hyseni, 34, also known as Shpend Mazari, was removed from the United States via a commercial flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport and transferred into the custody of Albanian law enforcement authorities.
“Hyseni fled Albania to evade serving time for his role in a Robbery and Murder in his home country. Although he was ordered removed from the United States, he used New York as his sanctuary, until he was arrested for two more robberies in our country,” said Thomas R. Decker, field office director for ERO New York. “The State of New York continues to shield those in the country illegally, but ICE’s interest is to keep our communities safe, and we will continue to remove criminal aliens from the country, despite the difficulties of new state and local policies.”
According to Albanian law enforcement authorities, in July 2004, Hyseni entered a house in order to commit a robbery. During that robbery, Hyseni shot and killed the home’s occupant. Hyseni fled Albania, and was convicted in absentia and sentenced to twenty-five years in prison.
Hyseni illegally entered the United States at an unknown place, on an unknown date. On Feb 7, 2005 Hyseni was arrested by the U.S. Border Patrol near Hidalgo, Texas, and placed into removal proceedings. On May 20, 2005, he posted bond and was released from ICE custody. On March 22, 2007, Hyseni was ordered removed by an immigration judge in New York City.
According to U.S. court records, in November and December 2011, Hyseni armed with a handgun and disguised with a mask robbed TD Bank branches in both Clifton, and Wallington, New Jersey. He was subsequently arrested by the FBI in Manhattan. In July 2013, Hyseni was sentenced in U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, after pleading guilty, to two counts of bank robbery. He was sentenced to 108 months in federal custody.
On Oct 29, 2019, Hyseni was transferred to ERO-New York custody following the completion of his imposed federal sentence, paving the way for his removal to Albania.
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. In fiscal year 2017, ICE conducted 226,119 removals nationwide. Eighty-three percent of individuals removed from the interior of the United States had previously been convicted of a criminal offense.
Updated: