ICE deports Macedonian man wanted for armed robbery conviction
DETROIT — A Macedonian national wanted in his home country for a 2004 armed robbery and aggravated theft conviction was turned over Wednesday morning to Macedonian law enforcement authorities. He was removed via commercial aircraft under escort by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
Nedzad Zverotik, 38, entered the United States illegally in May 1996 and was granted voluntary departure by an immigration judge in Feb. 1999. He complied with the order and departed the United States as instructed. In August 2011, he was arrested after attempting to illegally enter the U.S. from Canada and charged with improper entry by an alien. He was convicted of the charge in March 2012 and sentenced to time served before being turned over to ERO.
In July 2012, he was ordered removed to Macedonia by an immigration judge. While processing his removal, officers with ERO discovered Zverotik was the subject of an Interpol warrant for a 2004 aggravated theft and armed robbery conviction in his native Macedonia.
Zverotik was turned over to Macedonian law enforcement authorities in Skopje, Macedonia, Oct. 10 without incident.
"This removal is another example of the outstanding cooperation between the U.S. and our international law enforcement partners to ensure that fugitives around the world are brought to justice," said Rebecca Adducci, field office director for ERO Detroit. "ICE is using its unique immigration enforcement authorities to safeguard our communities from criminal aliens and others who pose a public safety threat, including suspects fleeing justice in their own countries. As these violent criminal fugitives are discovering, they can't outrun the law."
ERO is focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that targets serious criminal aliens who present the greatest risk to the security of our communities, such as those charged with or convicted of homicide, rape, robbery, kidnapping, major drug offenses and threats to national security. ERO also prioritizes the arrest and removal of those who game the immigration system including immigration fugitives or those criminal aliens who have been previously deported and illegally re-entered the country.
Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 500 foreign fugitives from the United States who were being sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder. ERO works with ICE's Office of International Affairs, foreign consular offices in the United States, and Interpol to identify foreign fugitives illegally present in the country.
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