ICE ERO Baltimore arrests 2 known or suspected human rights violators in Operation No Safe Haven V

BALTIMORE – Officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Baltimore arrested two suspected human rights violators at large in the community during a 3-day period, from August 27-29th. The two were arrested as part of a nationwide operation, No Safe Haven, where 39 known or suspected human rights violators and war criminals with final orders of removal were arrested throughout the U.S.

ERO Baltimore officers arrested a Central American man who was affiliated with an organization complicit in alleged kidnappings, inflicted prisoner injuries, and alleged murders in his home country, and a West African man connected to a regime directly responsible for human rights abuses of citizens in his home country. The two were issued final orders of removal to be removed from United States.

“These individuals were allegedly involved in human rights violations, and then violated U.S. immigration laws to hide out in our community,” said Baltimore Deputy Field Office Director Francisco Madrigal. “ICE is committed to finding and removing human rights violators to their home countries to ensure they do not avoid the consequences of their crimes. We will not allow them to find safe haven in our neighborhoods.”

ICE deportation officers carry out targeted enforcement operations every day in locations around the country as part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to protect the nation, uphold public safety, and protect the integrity of our immigration laws and border controls. These operations involve existing, established Fugitive Operations Teams. All of those arrested are currently detained in ICE custody pending removal from the United States.

ICE is committed to identifying, investigation, prosecuting and removing known or suspected human rights violators who seek a safe haven in the United States. HSI's Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center investigates human rights violators who try to evade justice by seeking shelter in the United States, including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, severe violations of religious freedom, female genital mutilation/cutting and the use or recruitment of child soldiers. These individuals may use fraudulent identities or falsified documents to enter the country and attempt to blend into communities in the United States.

Members of the public who have information about foreign nationals suspected of engaging in human rights abuses or war crimes are urged to contact ICE by calling the toll-free ICE tip line at 1-866-347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also email HRV.ICE@ice.dhs.gov or complete ICE’s online tip form.

Since 2003, ICE has arrested more than 415 individuals for human rights-related violations of the law under various criminal and/or immigration statutes. During that same period, ICE obtained deportation orders against and physically removed more than 990 known or suspected human rights violators from the United States. Additionally, ICE has facilitated the departure of an additional 152 such individuals from the United States.