ICE returns fugitive wanted for murder in Brazil

BOSTON — A Brazilian national captured recently in Middlesex County, who is wanted for murder in his native country, was turned over to Brazilian law enforcement officials at the Rio de Janeiro International Airport Wednesday morning by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Marcelo Alves-Ferreira, 39, is charged with homicide in a warrant issued in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. The warrant alleges Alves was responsible for the May 22, 2005, murder of Jhonatan Alves Braganca in Sao Jose de Safira. According to officials in the Brazilian Attorney General's Office, Alves entered the victim's home and shot him 10 times while he slept.

Alves was taken into custody on administrative immigration violations Feb. 25 at his Malden residence. The arrest was made by ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) as part of operation, "No Where to Run."

Alves's capture came after ICE HSI received a lead from the HSI attaché in Brasilia and the Brazilian Federal Police who indicated the murder suspect might be residing just north of Boston. Subsequently, Alves appeared before an immigration judge, who determined the fugitive had no legal basis to remain in the United States paving the way for his repatriation to Brazil.

ERO Boston coordinated the removal of Alves with the HSI attaché office in Brasilia, Brazil.

"Today's repatriation is another example of the outstanding cooperation between the U.S. and Brazil to protect law-abiding citizens on both sides of the border," said Sean Gallagher, field office director for ERO in Boston. "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."

"By working together, we've succeeded in taking a potentially dangerous individual off of the streets," said Bruce Foucart, special agent in charge of HSI Boston. "Cases like this clearly show the benefits of local, federal, and international collaboration and why it's important for that teamwork to continue. As this violent criminal fugitive is discovering, you can't outrun the law."

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 720 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 HSI'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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