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April 2, 2015Boston, MA, United StatesEnforcement and Removal

ICE removes Portuguese national wanted for domestic violence

Estacio Da Ponte Talaia

BOSTON – A 58-year-old man wanted in his home country of Portugal was removed April 2 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Estacio Da Ponte Talaia was administratively arrested in Detroit Feb. 25. ERO officers working in concert with liaisons in Interpol discovered that Talaia was wanted in Portugal. According to Police in Portugal, Talaia is the subject of an arrest warrant issued on or about Nov. 16, 2012 from the Court of Ponta Delgada, Portugal, for a domestic violence conviction.

“We are committed to tracking down international fugitives who have sought to use the United States as a safe haven,” said ERO Boston Field Office Director Sean Gallagher. “Despite having what appeared to be a clean record in the United States, Talaia was actually a wanted man. This is yet another example of how our officers continue to track down wolves in sheep’s clothing.”

ERO coordinates the removal of criminals, foreign fugitives and others ordered deported. Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO assistant attachés for repatriation have assisted with the removal of 720 foreign fugitives from the United States who were sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder. Last year alone, ERO removed 315,943 individuals from the United States, 98 percent of whom met one or more of ICE’s immigration enforcement priorities.

Through its International Operations, ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has 64 operational attaché offices in 46 countries around the world. HSI special agents work closely with foreign law enforcement agencies through a robust network of specialized, vetted units known as Transnational Criminal Investigative Units. 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.

Both HSI and ERO personnel work on issues of mutual interest with host governments.

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