ICE Boston arrests Dominican fugitive wanted for murder in his home country
BOSTON – A 26-year-old man wanted in the Dominican Republic for murder, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in a joint investigation with ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and with the assistance of Interpol, the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Christian Starling Aguasvivas, 26, of the Dominican Republic, was arrested without incident outside of his residence in Lawrence, Massachusetts, May 8, by ICE officers and special agents along with Massachusetts State Police.
Aguasvivas is wanted in the Dominican Republic for his alleged role in the May 12, 2013 murder of an officer from that country’s National Drug Control Agency and the non-fatal shooting of a second officer from the same agency. At the time of the shootings, which occurred in the city of Bani, the officers were trying to arrest Aguasvivas for narcotics violations. After the shootings, Aguasvivas fled, and Dominican authorities obtained a warrant for his arrest.
Following a May 7 tip, the ERO Interpol liaison confirmed that Aguasviva was the subject of an active Interpol Red Notice.
Aguasviva illegally entered the United States without being admitted or paroled. As a foreign fugitive, he is an ICE priority. He was placed in removal proceedings and will remain in custody awaiting the outcome of his case for murder.
“This arrest is yet another example of the great cooperation within law enforcement, and ICE’s commitment to engage in smart and effect immigration enforcement”, said Boston ERO Field Office Director Sean Gallagher. “Within days of being notified, ERO and HSI worked together to ensure that another threat to the community was located and arrested.”
In fiscal year 2014, ERO removed 315,943 individuals from the United States. In addition to convicted criminals, the agency's enforcement priorities include those apprehended while attempting to unlawfully enter the United States, illegal re-entrants – individuals who returned to the United States after being previously removed by ICE – and immigration fugitives. In fiscal year 2014, 98 percent of ICE removals met these priorities.
Through its International Operations, HSI has 67 operational attaché offices in 48 countries around the world. HSI special agents work closely with foreign law enforcement agencies. Additionally, HSI brings personnel from host countries to the United States to train at the Department of Homeland Security Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia.
Updated: