Previously removed Dominican national apprehended by ERO Boston sentenced for illegal reentry

BOSTON — A Dominican national who was previously removed from the United States by Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston has been sentenced to eight months in federal prison after illegally reentering the country. The Dominican noncitizen, who was previously convicted for drug distribution, received the federal prison sentence April 29 in the U.S. District court for the District of Massachusetts in Boston.

“This Dominican noncitizen not only displayed a blatant disregard for U.S. immigration laws, he attempted to distribute poison throughout our neighborhoods,” said ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons. “We cannot allow such offenders to roam the streets of our communities; we have an obligation to the people we have sworn to protect. ERO Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by aggressively apprehending and removing the most egregious noncitizen offenders from New England.”

The Dominican noncitizen unlawfully entered the United States on an unknown date, at an unknown location, and without being inspected, admitted or paroled by a U.S. immigration official.

The Lawrence District Court arraigned him May 22, 2019, on drug distribution charges.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts arraigned him Nov. 6, 2019, for possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

On April 19, 2021, deportation officers from ERO Boston’s Providence, Rhode Island, field office interviewed the noncitizen while he was incarcerated. At that time, he admitted to unlawfully entering the United States.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts convicted the Dominican noncitizen May 20, 2021, for the offense of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. The court sentenced him to time served, which was 18 months in prison, followed by 48 months of probation. Later that day, deportation officers from ERO Boston arrested him after he was released from U.S. Marshals Service custody and served him with a notice to appear before a Department of Justice (DOJ) immigration judge.

On June 1, 2021, the DOJ immigration judge ordered the noncitizen removed from the United States to the Dominican Republic.

ERO Boston removed him to the Dominican Republic June 15, 2021.

The Dominican noncitizen unlawfully reentered the United States on an unknown date, at an unknown location, and without being admitted, inspected or paroled by a U.S. immigration official.

On Oct. 10, 2023, the Lawrence District Court arraigned the noncitizen for drug trafficking and giving false information with the intent to hinder a police investigation.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts convicted the Dominican noncitizen Dec. 19, 2023, for violating his probation and sentenced him to time served, which was 19 days in prison. Later that day, deportation officers from ERO Boston arrested the noncitizen for unlawfully reentering the United States.

He pleaded guilty Feb. 29, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts for unlawfully reentering the United States.

On April 29, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts sentenced the Dominican noncitizen to eight months in prison. ERO Boston will apprehend the noncitizen upon the completion of his sentence. He will remain in ERO custody pending his removal from the United States.

ERO conducts removals of individuals without a lawful basis to remain in the United States, including at the order of immigration judges with DOJ’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.

Report crimes or suspicious activity by dialing the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the 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.