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Immigration

ERO El Paso removes Mexican fugitive wanted for murder in his home country

Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) El Paso deportation officers removed an unlawfully present citizen of Mexico wanted for homicide in Colima, Mexico, on May 25.


Immigration

4 Arizona swindlers sentenced for Paycheck Protection Program fraud after HSI Phoenix investigation

Four Arizona residents were sentenced June 8 to significant prison terms in connection with their schemes to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars in Paycheck Protection Program loans, a federal loan initiative designed to help businesses pay their employees and meet expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic.


Immigration

HSI Washington, D.C. investigation lands 4 MS-13 gang members in prison for racketeering, violent crimes, drug distribution

Four Northern Virginia MS-13 gang members received prison sentences for their parts in a racketeering conspiracy that included violent crimes and drug distribution.


Immigration

ERO Boston arrests convicted Brazilian drug trafficker

Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston arrested a convicted Brazilian drug trafficker in Abington on June 8. The 22-year-old man is the subject of an active Interpol Red Notice and was sentenced to 15 years in prison in Minas Gerais, Brazil, in October 2022.


Immigration

ERO Philadelphia removes confirmed MS-13 gang member wanted for murder to El Salvador

ERO Philadelphia removed Jose Benedicto Mojica Aldana to El Salvador on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Air Operations charter aircraft June 9. Mojica is a citizen of El Salvador and confirmed MS-13 gang member with a final order of removal who is wanted by law enforcement authorities in El Salvador for aggravated murder.


Immigration

ERO Boston arrests Ecuadoran national charged with kidnapping, indecent assault of a child

Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston arrested an unlawfully present Ecuadoran national June 7 in Brockton.


Immigration

HSI Los Angeles’ Financial Crimes Task Force brings down California man for COVID relief fraud

A California man who fraudulently obtained almost $3 million in COVID-19 business loans and jobless benefits has been sentenced to 63 months in federal prison, the Justice Department announced June 7.


Immigration

Texas man sentenced to 19 years for distribution of child sexual abuse material after HSI San Antonio investigation

A judge sentenced a San Antonio man June 7 to more than 19 years for distribution of child sexual abuse material following an investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of the San Antonio Police Department, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) San Antonio.


Immigration

ICE member finalist for recognition honoring outstanding public servants

A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) team member was recently named as a finalist for the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals®, which honors exceptional public servants. Michael E. Camal, Senior Engagement Manager for the Blue Campaign and Blue Lightning Initiative under the Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT) is honored as a 2023 emerging leader.


Immigration

ICE conducts removal flights June 16

News Release: WASHINGTON - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted multiple removal flights including to Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras as part of dozens of flights conducted each week throughout the hemisphere and around the world.


Immigration

ICE conducts removal flights June 14

News Release: WASHINGTON - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted multiple removal flights including to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras as part of dozens of flights conducted each week throughout the hemisphere and around the world.


Immigration

ICE conducts removal flights June 13

News Release: WASHINGTON - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted multiple removal flights including to Guatemala, Honduras, and Pakistan as part of dozens of flights conducted each week throughout the hemisphere and around the world.


Immigration

HSI Arizona joins law enforcement partners to disrupt networks facilitating fraud schemes

Over the past three months, special agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) partnered with federal, state and local law enforcement officials operating in Arizona in a national campaign to disrupt networks used by foreign fraudsters who obtain proceeds through various schemes. The campaign addressed conduct by individuals sometimes referred to as “money mules” who serve fraudsters by receiving money from victims and forwarding proceeds to perpetrators, many of whom are based overseas.


Immigration

2 men sentenced to prison in HSI Tucson smuggling and hostage case

On June 2, a judge sentenced a Mexican national to 18 years in prison for his involvement in human smuggling, hostage taking and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigated the case with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Marana Police Department.


Immigration

9 indicted in Joint Task Force Alpha investigation after human smuggling organization takedown

An indictment against nine alleged human smugglers was unsealed June 5 following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Border Patrol assisted with the case.


Immigration

Canovanas man indicted for producing child sexual abuse material and exploiting a minor

On May 31, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Christopher Joel Rabell-Pineiro, 25, of Canovanas, with production of child sexual abuse material and child exploitation. Authorities arrested Rabell-Pineiro on June 6.


Immigration

HSI Nogales investigation sends firearms and ammunition smuggler to prison for 51 months

A federal judge sentenced Miguel Armando Castro, of Phoenix, to 51 months in prison followed by supervised release for attempting to smuggle firearms and ammunition into Mexico. The judge also ordered him to pay a $100 special assessment. Castro pleaded guilty to smuggling goods from the United States following a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) probe.


Immigration

ICE conducts removal flights June 6

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted multiple removal flights including to the Dominican Republic and Guatemala as part of dozens of flights conducted each week throughout the hemisphere and around the world.


Immigration

Virginia man sentenced to 10 years for distributing child sexual abuse material after HSI Washington, D.C. investigation

An investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C. landed a Virginia man in federal prison for 10 years followed by 15 years of supervised release, for distribution of child sexual abuse material. Francisco Burgos Jr., 38, of Chantilly, Virginia, received the sentence May 17 at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Alexandria.


Immigration

HSI Eagle Pass arrests 2 trucking company employees for alleged wire fraud

Two Eagle Pass women were arrested May 26 on a four-count indictment related to their alleged scheme to defraud and embezzle money from their employer, a Texas-based trucking company headquartered in Eagle Pass. The investigation is being conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).