ICE removes Bosnian-Herzegovinian convicted of providing material support to a terrorist

CHICAGO — On April 19, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Chicago Field Office removed a noncitizen to Bosnia-Herzegovina who was convicted for the offenses of conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist and providing material support to a terrorist.

Bosnian Herzegovinian national Ramiz Zijad Hodzic, 47, was flown from Chicago O’Hare International Airport to Bosnia-Herzegovina Airport, Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina on a flight coordinated by ICE’s Air Operations Unit. Upon arrival, Hodzic was turned over to proper authorities.

On Feb. 10, 1998, the former Immigration and Naturalization Service lawfully admitted Hodzic into the U.S. at the John F. Kennedy International Airport. He was arrested by the FBI in February 2015 for a weapons offense, and in November 2019 was convicted of conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist and providing material support to a terrorist.

The Office of the Principal Legal Advisor Chicago and the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor National Security Law Division worked with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to obtain a judicial order of removal. A federal judge signed the stipulated judicial order of removal on Nov.14, 2019, at the time of Hodzic’s sentencing. On Nov. 30, 2021, ICE ERO detained Hodzic following the completion of his criminal sentence.

Members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives are urged to contact ICE by calling the ICE Tip Line at 1 (866) DHS-2-ICE or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also file a tip online by completing ICE’s online tip form.

Regardless of nationality, ICE makes custody determinations on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with U.S. law and Department of Homeland Security policy, considering the merits and factors of each case while adhering to current agency priorities and guidelines.

ICE focuses its civil immigration enforcement priorities on the apprehension and removal of noncitizens who pose a threat to our national security, public safety, and border security.