News Releases and Statements

Chaunta A. Bashir, a.k.a. “taytheonly,” 27, of Chino, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jesus G. Bernal. Bashir pleaded guilty on July 15 to one count of production of child pornography following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles.

ICE’s Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) officers escorted Stanislav Eduardovich Lisitskiy, 32, to Russia via an ICE Air Operation charter flight, before turning him over to Russian authorities at Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow.

This week, David Valadez, 27, from Laredo is expected to appear before a U.S. magistrate judge to be formally charged for conspiring to transport an illegal alien resulting in death.

A Florida man was convicted Friday of aiding and abetting the export of defense articles from the United States.

Jesus Burgos Arias, Juan Alatorre Venegas, and Jose Yee Perez were arrested on Nov. 20, 2020, as a result of a broader long-term joint investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, San Diego Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, targeting associates of the Sinaloa Cartel.

ICE arrested two criminal aliens after their release by Prince George’s County, Maryland, despite each having immigration detainers. Those arrested include a member of MS-13 and a convicted sex offender. 

The federal complaint alleges that the murder of E.C. was committed to further the power of the Gardena 13 street gang, which is described in the affidavit as a criminal enterprise that has documented membership in California, Nevada, Texas, Hawaii and Rosarito, Mexico. The Gardena Police Department believes the gang distributes narcotics, primarily methamphetamine, both locally and in Hawaii.

In order to further protect those who live and work within the NWIPC, all incoming detainees who do not require isolation monitoring due to possible COVID-19 symptoms or exposure are placed into one of three separate NIMs housing units for 14 days of medical monitoring for signs or symptoms of COVID-19.

The defendant, Jorge Alexander Che-Quiab, 25, a former Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient, stands accused of multiple felony charges, including murder and sexual assault of a child and is in the country unlawfully.

Despite widespread illness and death caused by COVID-19, many individuals and criminal networks are continuing to exploit the pandemic for illegal financial gains, using fraudulent schemes to source, produce, export or sell fake vaccines and related products, according to investigators.

Michael John Suppes, 47, of Weld County, Colorado, agreed to a substantial forfeiture of assets that totaled nearly $300,000 in addition to his prison sentence. He also agreed to forfeit 123 firearms as well as firearm parts and ammunition.

According to court documents, Alma Rosa Salinas attempted entry into the United States Aug. 7, 2019 at the Los Ebanos Port of Entry driving a Ford F-150. She was referred to secondary inspection where a K-9 had alerted other officials to the presence of concealed narcotics. Once at the secondary inspection area, authorities found liquid meth hidden in the vehicle’s gas tank.

Juan Ubaldo Guerra, 56, is a citizen of Guatemala living in the United States illegally. He was charged by the St. George Police Department with four counts of sexual assault on a child, a second-degree felony.

This year’s operation nearly doubled the HSI New Orleans 2019 totals, which resulted in 33,000 items seized, valued at $8 million.

The IPR Center and Amazon today announced the launch of a joint operation to prevent counterfeit goods from entering the U.S. and help protect American consumers.

The alleged perpetrator, Fernando De Jesus Lopez-Garcia, is a repeat immigration offender with a significant criminal history spanning back nearly 15 years that includes convictions for battery of a spouse, assault with a deadly weapon, inflicting corporal injury on a spouse, battery of an officer, and vandalism. On Nov. 22, the San Jose Police Department arrested De Jesus Lopez-Garcia for two counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, battery on a spouse or cohabitant and violation of a protective order. Officers from ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) lodged an immigration detainer with the jail the following day.

Wondering what an Alive Day is? An Alive Day is the anniversary of the date when a veteran almost lost their life in combat.

Officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Houston, Texas, removed an unlawfully present Salvadoran national Friday wanted in El Salvador for membership in a terrorist organization. 

A State Grand Jury indicted 17 individuals Nov. 23 for one count of conspiracy, one count of illegally conducting an enterprise, and various counts of possession of a dangerous drug (methamphetamine) for sale, possession of a narcotic drug (heroin) for sale in an amount over the statutory threshold, transportation of a narcotic drug (heroin) for sale in an amount over the statutory threshold, transportation of dangerous drugs (methamphetamine) for sale over the statutory threshold, and money laundering; in an investigation assisted by ICE’s HSI.

In St. George, Utah, ICE officers targeted Abraham Deleon-Garcia, 44, a citizen of Mexico, who failed to depart the U.S. by Nov. 7, 2017, under the terms of his agreement with an immigration judge. Deleon-Garcia was arrested near his house Nov. 4 and will remain in ICE custody his pending removal to Mexico.

Josue Garcia-Rodriguez, also known as “Juan Pablo Mungia-Garcia” and “Josue Garcia Chapo,” 25, of Mexico, was sentenced to 51 months in prison by U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan.

The removal case and appeal were handled jointly by attorneys in ICE New Orleans Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (Memphis), and attorneys from DOJ’s HRSP, with the assistance of the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center.

An ICE Air Operations charter flight carrying Duran-Hernandez arrived at the Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport in San Salvador, where ERO New York deportation officers transferred custody of the fugitive to Salvadoran government officials.

Amir Aqeel, 52, and Pardeep Basra, 51, both of Houston; Rifat Bajwa, 51, Richmond, Texas; Mayer Misak, 40, Cypress, Texas; Mauricio Navia, 41, Katy, Texas; and Richard Reuth, 57, Spring, Texas, made their initial appearances Nov. 17 in the Southern District of Texas. They are all charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. The indictment also charges Aqeel with three counts of money laundering.

Since Nov. 2, ICE ERO officers have arrested more than 150 individuals who failed to depart after being granted voluntary departure. About 86% of those arrested also had criminal convictions or pending charges.