News Releases and Statements

ERO Baltimore apprehended an undocumented Salvadoran noncitizen convicted of illegally possessing an unregistered firearm. Deportation officers from ERO Baltimore’s Criminal Apprehension Program arrested the 24-year-old member of the notorious MS-13 street gang Jan. 10 at his residence in Silver Spring.

ERO Harlingen apprehended six unlawfully present noncitizens with pending charges or convictions for murder, homicide or assault against children during a nationwide law enforcement effort from January 16-28.

ERO Philadelphia removed Thalles Mendes Ribeiro, a citizen of Brazil with a final order of removal, to Brazil on Jan. 26. Mendes is a foreign fugitive wanted by law enforcement authorities in Brazil for false imprisonment and rape.

ICE, working in coordination with DHS and CBP, facilitated removal flights, including single adults and family units to Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Mauritania, Mexico, Peru and Senegal, Jan. 29 – Feb. 2.

ICE's ERO officers apprehended 26 unlawfully present noncitizens with pending charges or convictions for murder, homicide and assault against children during a nationwide law enforcement effort that ran from January 16 to 28. 

Those arrested include a 51-year-old citizen of El Salvador arrested in Salt Lake City. In July 2009, the Third District Court in Salt Lake City convicted this noncitizen of misdemeanor negligent homicide; she will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

During the arrest, ERO officers also located an assault rifle, a pistol, and large amounts of ammunition for both weapons.

ICE focuses on the arrest of noncitizens who have committed crimes and other individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws.

ICE engages with stakeholders nationwide, including state, local, tribal, territorial governments, elected officials, and law enforcement, the private sector, faith-based organizations and colleges and universities.

ICE Deputy Director and Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director Patrick J. Lechleitner, met with Virginia Attorney General Jason S. Miyares, at the Washington D.C.-based DHS CCHT today.

According to court documents, Gregory Massey, 30, and his girlfriend and co-defendant Patricia Hart, forced two adult victims to engage in commercial sex in different locations during 2021 and 2022.

David Pasillas Martinez, 52, of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled.

Saul Castorena, 41, and his brother, Steven Castorena, 40, are charged with conspiracy to take a hostage, two counts of hostage taking, conspiracy related to harboring undocumented noncitizens, and two counts of harboring an undocumented noncitizen.

ERO Philadelphia removed Rakin Islam Chowdhury, a citizen of Bangladesh with a final order of removal, to Bangladesh on Jan. 17. Chowdhury was previously convicted of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.

David Fehr Wiebe, of Janos, Chihuahua, Mexico, will remain in custody pending trial, which has not yet been scheduled.

According to court documents, Harold Lee McMullen possessed more than 400 images depicting the sexual abuse of children. Authorities obtained a search warrant after discovering that his computer’s IP address exchanged child sexual abuse material over BitTorrent. McMullen was arrested Aug. 15, 2023, and pleaded guilty Sept. 14, 2023.

Deportation officers from ERO Baltimore’s Fugitive Operations Team arrested the 30-year-old MS-13 gang member Jan. 29 near his residence in Silver Spring.

Vernelle E. Hines, 30, a resident of Houston, Texas, was charged with interfering with commerce by robbery and carrying and using a firearm during a crime of violence.

ICE leadership met with LaSalle Corrections yesterday as part of ongoing conversations between the agency and private sector partners.

Roberto Tovar, 47, of Del Rio, was sentenced Jan. 29 to 168 months in federal prison. His co-defendant, Melissa Villarreal, 36, of Del Rio, was sentenced to 135 months in prison. Tovar pleaded guilty June 24, 2021, and Villarreal pleaded guilty March 28, 2022.

Nathanael Alley Rivera, 23, of Eloy, pleaded guilty on Sept. 6, 2023, to conspiracy charges related to his supervisory role in transporting hundreds of undocumented noncitizens for financial gain. During the first months of the conspiracy, Rivera was on probation for a previous human smuggling conviction.

The Puerto Rico Crimes Against Children Task Force, led by HSI, arrested Elvin Jhohanie Molina-Rosado, a 35-year-old man from Corozal.

On Nov. 18, 2020, the FBI in Philadelphia arrested Nabila Khan for conspiracy to provide material support of resources to a foreign terrorist organization.

Dwayne Henry, 32, and Wayne Henry, 34, both of Landover Hills, allegedly engaged in a lottery scheme that tricked victims into believing they won a lottery or sweepstakes and were required to send advance payment for taxes and other fees before they were entitled to receive their winnings.

HSI began investigating Victor Francisco Mendez, 35, of Douglas, in June 2023, when the Douglas Police Department received information from the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.