ERO Boston apprehends Honduran national arrested locally for sexual assault of a minor

HARTFORD, Conn. - Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston apprehended an unlawfully present Honduran national who was arrested locally and charged with first degree sexual assault of a minor. Deportation officers from ERO Boston's Hartford field office arrested the 26-year-old Honduran national in New Britain April 4. Local officials ignored an ICE immigration detainer and released him from the Hartford Correctional Center.

"This is a disturbing example of how noncooperative jurisdictions can pose a significant threat to communities in our region," said ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons. "Despite the presence of an immigration detainer, local authorities released an alleged sexual predator onto the streets of a Connecticut neighborhood. ERO Boston stands ready to work with local jurisdictions to prioritize public safety throughout New England."

The Honduran national unlawfully entered the United States in August 2013, near Rio Grande City, Texas. U.S. Border Patrol arrested him, issued him a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge, and released him on recognizance to family members in New Britain.

On Sept. 14, 2023, police in New Britain arrested and charged him with sexual assault offenses, including first degree sexual assault against a minor under the age of 13 and illegal sexual contact with a minor.

On Oct. 13, 2023, ERO Boston lodged a detainer against him with the Hartford Correctional Center.

Officials at the Hartford Correctional Center ignored ERO Boston's immigration detainer and released the Honduran national Feb. 1, 2024.

Deportation officers from ERO Boston's Hartford suboffice arrested the Honduran national without incident in New Britain April 4. He will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

ERO conducts removals of individuals without a lawful basis to remain in the United States, including at the order of immigration judges with the Justice Department's Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). EOIR is a separate entity from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case, determining if a noncitizen is subject to a final order of removal or eligible for certain forms of relief from removal.

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 crime and suspicious activity by calling 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the ICE online tip form.

Learn more about ERO Boston's mission to increase public safety in our New England communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @EROBoston.

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