ICE Re-Arrests Migrant Facing Homicide Charges In Honduras

In light of crimes allegedly committed by undocumented immigrants nationwide — including an attack that left University of Georgia student Laken Riley dead — in recent years, Republican lawmakers have been pushing for laws that would make it easier to detain and deport those charged with violent offenses.

Although such efforts have attracted moderate bipartisan support, measures like one recently put forward in the U.S. Senate have faced opposition by Democratic members.

The case of one Honduran national in the U.S. illegally has highlighted the much broader national security concern. According to a statement from the Boston, Massachusetts, division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, the 23-year-old undocumented immigrant faced homicide charges in his native country and was released by U.S. authorities even after he was convicted of charges including domestic violence and felony assault with a weapon.

He was reportedly re-arrested last month and was ordered to remain in ICE custody pending a hearing before a Justice Department Executive Office for Immigration Review judge.

As the ICE statement explained, the individual was first arrested in June by authorities in Central Falls, Rhode Island, on the assault charge as part of a case that is still pending.

Last month, he was arrested in the same town on suspicion of domestic violence as well as a bail violation.

“This unlawfully present Honduran fugitive is wanted for homicide in his home country and has now been found guilty of violent criminal behavior here,” confirmed Todd M. Lyons, the field office director for ICE’s ERO.

He went on to describe it as “very disturbing that, despite the serious charges this fugitive faces and the existence of an active immigration detainer filed for his custody, he was released by the court back into the community.”

According to Lyons’ assessment, the troubling development served as a stark reminder of “the importance of why ERO Boston seeks to cooperate with local communities to protect public safety in our region.”

During fiscal year 2023 alone, ERO made 170,590 arrests nationwide, representing a nearly 20% year-over-year increase. That number included nearly 74,000 “noncitizens with a criminal history,” who had “an average of four charges and convictions” each, according to the agency.

Previous articleReport: Cheney Withheld Evidence Supporting Trump’s Jan. 6 Claims
Next articleExpert: Artificial Intelligence Could Exceed Human-Level By 2027