Last month, officials from ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) team reported that a 35-year-old fugitive, who was in the country illegally and wanted back home, was apprehended by deportation officers from Enforcement and Removal Operations Baltimore in Lanham.
In September 2011, the Colombian was apprehended and accused of attempted aggravated homicide. Following a legal proceeding, he was found guilty of aggravated homicide, and in May 2017, he was handed a prison sentence of 17 years.
On June 22, 2022, the US Border Patrol apprehended a Colombian fugitive for illegally entering the United States near San Luis, Arizona. The fugitive was then issued a notice to appear before the Department of Justice.
He enrolled in the “Alternatives to Detention” program later that day, which ultimately resulted in his release. However, the fugitive failed to appear in court and subsequently returned to Colombia before eventually making his way back to Laurel.
As of Wednesday, July 26, the Colombian was still in ERO custody after being tracked down and arrested last month.
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency carries out the removal of persons who do not have a legal basis to remain in the country. This includes individuals who have been ordered to leave by immigration judges through the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR).
According to ERO Baltimore Field Office Director, Matthew Elliston, Colombian authorities are searching for a fugitive who has been convicted of aggravated homicide in his home country. Instead of serving his prison sentence, he decided to evade justice and hide out in Maryland.
At ERO Baltimore, we are committed to ensuring that our Maryland communities do not become safe havens for criminals from around the world. Our top priority is to maintain public safety by apprehending and deporting non-citizen offenders who pose a significant threat to our neighborhoods.
