ICE - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
11/16/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/17/2022 11:44
Honduras national wanted for homicide removed by ICE ERO Miami
MIAMI - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations Miami Field Office, with support from ERO Honduras and its Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement taskforce, removed a foreign fugitive wanted in Honduras for homicide.
Honduran national Luis Fernando Lopez-Avila, 22, was flown from Miami International Airport on a flight coordinated by ICE's Air Operations Unit. Upon his Nov. 11 arrival, the fugitive was turned over to the Honduran National Police.
Lopez-Avila entered the U.S. at an unknown place and on an unknown date without being admitted or paroled by an immigration official. On Aug. 22, Florida's St. John's County Sheriff's Office arrested Lopez-Avila for possession of marijuana and driving without a valid license. During immigration proceedings, he was found inadmissible, a violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and was ordered removed by an immigration judge. Officials determined that Lopez-Avila had an active arrest warrant for homicide in Honduras.
"This individual unlawfully entered the U.S. despite the fact that he was wanted in connection with homicide in his home country," said ERO Miami Field Office Director Garrett Ripa. "The removal of this criminal serves as proof that our nation will not be a safe haven for fugitives who seek to evade justice. Returning him to Honduran law enforcement should empower Honduran citizens to seek the justice they deserve for crimes committed against them."
Enforcement and Removal Operations is focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that protects the homeland through the arrest and removal of those within the United States who undermine the safety of our communities and the integrity of our immigration laws. Immigration enforcement is the largest single area of responsibility for ERO, and is a critical component of the overall safety, security and well-being of our nation. ERO manages all aspects of the immigration enforcement process, including identification and arrest, detention, bond management, supervised release, and transportation and removal. In addition, ERO repatriates noncitizens ordered removed from the U.S. to more than 170 countries around the world. ERO and its workforce are responsible for managing a safe, orderly and humane immigration enforcement process.
Learn more about ICE's ERO in your community @EROMiami.