Brazilian Murder Suspect Arrested in New Jersey by ERO Newark
On May 5th, 2023, an individual hailing from Brazil was arrested in Long Branch, New Jersey, by Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Newark. The arrest was made due to a request made by Brazilian authorities, who were seeking the individual in question to serve a 12-year sentence for committing aggravated murder.
Although the exact location and date of entry of the Brazilian national into the United States hasn’t been confirmed, he is presently in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on the condition of removal proceedings without bond. This development is considered another win for ERO Newark, as the agency continues to focus on arresting people deemed as dangerous to the society.
John Tsoukaris, the Field Office Director of ERO Newark, stated, “This is another great example of ICE officers arresting a dangerous individual from the community. I would also like thank ERO staff in Brasilia, Brazil, for their assistance, which resulted in this arrest. ICE will continue to leverage our domestic and international resources to protect our communities.”
It should be noted that foreign nationals placed into removal proceedings through ERO receive their due legal process from federal immigration judges within the immigration courts, which are administered by the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). Though EOIR is a branch of the U.S. Department of Justice, it exists as an independent agency separate from the Department of Homeland Security and ICE. Here, federal immigration judges rely solely on the merits of each individual case to make decisions, and ERO officials execute the removal decisions taken by these judges.
As the principal federal law enforcement authority in charge of domestic immigration enforcement, ERO’s primary objective is to guard the homeland against the biggest threats to the society and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws. ERO’s detained and non-detained populations fall under its mandate, as well as the repatriation of non-citizens who are issued final orders of removal. The agency not only has more than 7,700 law enforcement personnel, but also boasts a solid supporting non-law enforcement personnel across 25 domestic field offices and 208 locations nationwide, 30 overseas postings, and multiple temporary duty travel assignments along the border.
The agency’s focus on arresting those with a criminal history has also been impressive, as it revealed that in fiscal year 2022, ERO arrested 46,396 non-citizens specifically with criminal backgrounds. The group had 198,498 associated charges and convictions, including 21,531 assault offenses; 8,164 sex and sexual assault offenses; 5,554 weapons offenses; 1,501 homicide-related offenses; and 1,114 kidnapping offenses. For more information on ERO Newark and its immigration enforcement operations, follow the agency on Twitter at @ERONewark.
