News from April 2023
USCIS Releases New Strategic Plan Aimed at Strengthening a Diverse Workforce
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 29, 2023
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today released its 2023-2026 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) Strategic Plan (PDF, 3.28 MB), marking the agency’s first comprehensive strategy to incorporate a culture of DEIA principles as a foundational element of its daily work.
USCIS Clarifies Guidance on Citizenship and Naturalization for Adopted Children
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 29, 2023
Effective immediately, we are updating Volumes 5 and 12 of the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify how U.S. citizenship and naturalization provisions apply to adopted children.
HSI Houston teams up with federal partners to host cybersecurity training for Texas Medical Center
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 29, 2023
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston, in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) for the Southern District of Texas, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, and FBI Houston hosted cybersecurity training for leaders from the Texas Medical Center April 13 at the Methodist Hospital in Houston.
Texas security guard detained for attempted human smuggling following HSI, federal partner investigation
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 29, 2023
A South Texas man was ordered to remain in custody for his role in attempting to smuggle a noncitizen woman following an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol in McAllen and the Federal Air Marshal Service.
ERO Boston removes fugitive wanted for attempted murder in Brazil
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 29, 2023
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston removed an unlawfully present foreign fugitive wanted for attempted murder in Brazil April 14. Officials flew Eduardo Rocha Dos Santos, 41, a citizen of Brazil, from Massachusetts to Belo Horizonte, Brazil, where he was turned over to the proper authorities.
ERO Boston arrests Colombian citizen charged with rape in East Boston
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 29, 2023
Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston arrested an unlawfully present citizen of Colombia charged with felony rape in East Boston on April 4.
California man indicted for importing methamphetamine from Mexico following HSI Yuma case
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 29, 2023
A federal grand jury indicted a California man last week for importation of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), assisted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
ERO Baltimore apprehends 2 Salvadoran citizens convicted of sex offenses in Maryland
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 29, 2023
A recent Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Baltimore operation apprehended two unlawfully present noncitizens who were convicted of sex offenses in Maryland. Deportation officers arrested the individuals, both citizens of El Salvador, on April 4 in Montgomery County.
Former Venezuelan national treasurer and husband sentenced in money laundering, international bribery scheme
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 29, 2023
The former National Treasurer of Venezuela and her husband were each sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in prison for their roles in a multibillion-dollar bribery and money laundering scheme.
Tucson man sentenced to 10 years for human smuggling after HSI Sells investigation
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 29, 2023
On April 6, a judge sentenced a Southern Arizona man to 120 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for his involvement in human smuggling.
ERO Boston arrests Brazilian citizen facing firearms charges
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 29, 2023
Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston arrested an unlawfully present Brazilian national in Holbrook on April 4.
Unlawfully present Mexican national sentenced to over 12 years for drug trafficking after HSI Kansas City probe
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 29, 2023
Acting Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Kansas City Taekuk Cho and U.S. Attorney Steven Russell announced that Bartolo Roman-Tapia, 23, of Mexico, was sentenced on April 19, 2023, in federal court in Omaha for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine following an HSI probe.
HSI Washington, D.C. investigation lands Virginia man in federal prison for 19 years for child pornography charges
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 29, 2023
An investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C. resulted in a 19-year federal prison sentence, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for Chad Michael Lehofer, 37, of Fredericksburg, Virginia.
ICE launches online CeBONDS capability to automate bond payments
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 29, 2023
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced today the implementation of Cash Electronic Bonds Online (CeBONDS) – another step toward the modernization of the agency’s immigration processes.
HSI Baltimore investigation leads to coach’s guilty plea on federal child pornography charges
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 29, 2023
A Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore and Calvert County Sheriff’s Office investigation resulted in a former youth football coach’s guilty plea to child pornography charges April 18.
ERO Boston arrests man wanted in El Salvador for extortion
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 29, 2023
On April 4, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston arrested an unlawfully present Salvadoran national wanted by law enforcement authorities in El Salvador on charges of aggravated extortion in Chelsea, Massachusetts.
ERO Boston arrests fugitive wanted for murder in Jamaica in Bridgeport, Connecticut
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 29, 2023
Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston’s Fugitive Operations Team officers arrested an unlawfully present fugitive wanted in Jamaica for murder in Bridgeport on April 14.
ERO Los Angeles removes Mexican national convicted of rape
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 29, 2023
Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Los Angeles removed a Mexican national convicted of rape, causing bodily injury, and attempting to intimidate a witness or victim with criminal threats.
Illinois man sentenced to 75 years for sextortion of minors after HSI Chicago investigation
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 29, 2023
Perpetrator created fake social media accounts to coerce, exploit and harass teenage girls
ICE begins testing wrist-worn GPS monitoring technology
By Homeland Newswire Report | Apr 29, 2023
Part of ongoing modernization efforts