ICE - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
02/26/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 02/26/2024 18:30
ERO Philadelphia removes foreign fugitive wanted for drug trafficking to Brazil
PHILADELPHIA - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Philadelphia removed Miramar Martins De Brito, a citizen of Brazil with a final order of removal, to Brazil on Feb. 23. Martins is a foreign fugitive wanted by law enforcement authorities in Brazil for drug trafficking.
"The scourge of drug trafficking is hitting every state, city and town across the U.S. Some of those who perpetrate these crimes are noncitizens who take advantage of the American public's generosity and kindness," said ERO Philadelphia Field Office Director Cammilla Wamsley. "ERO continues to fight for the safety of the American public by detaining and removing these dangerous criminals."
On Feb. 12, 2019, U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended Martins near El Paso, Texas, for entering the United States without admission or parole by an immigration official. Officials served Martins with a notice to appear, charging inadmissibility pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act.
U.S. Border Patrol officials transferred Martins to ERO El Paso on Feb. 19, 2019. On the same date, ERO El Paso served Martins an order of release on recognizance and released him. Martins reported to ERO Newark to enroll in the Alternatives to Detention Program. ERO Newark terminated Martins from the ATD program on Aug. 17, 2020, as a pre-order absconder for failure to report as required.
A criminal court in Brazil issued an arrest warrant for Martins for drug trafficking on Feb. 10, 2022. He was apprehended on Feb. 15 in Newark, New Jersey, during a targeted enforcement operation. He was detained at the Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and then transferred to ERO Philadelphia at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Philipsburg.
On Aug. 25, 2023, a Department of Justice immigration judge in Richmond, Virginia, ordered Martins removed from the United States.
As one of ICE's three operational directorates, ERO is the principal federal law enforcement authority in charge of domestic immigration enforcement. ERO's mission is to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of U.S. communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws, and its primary areas of focus are interior enforcement operations, management of the agency's detained and non-detained populations, and repatriation of noncitizens who have received final orders of removal. ERO's workforce consists of more than 7,700 law enforcement and non-law enforcement support personnel across 25 domestic field offices and 208 locations nationwide, 30 overseas postings, and multiple temporary duty travel assignments along the border.
Members of the public can report crimes or suspicious activity by calling 866-347-2423 or completing ICE's online tip form.
Learn more about ERO's mission to increase public safety in your community on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @EROPhiladelphia.