News Releases and Statements

The United States has a longstanding policy of removing foreign nationals who lack a lawful basis to stay in the United States.

HSI and OFO’s Operation Blue Lotus, along with the U.S. Border Patrol’s Four Horsemen operation, seized substantial amounts of methamphetamine and interdicted more than a ton of fentanyl.

The 37-year-old foreign national unlawfully entered the United States near San Luiz, Arizona, in January 2022. U.S. Border Patrol arrested him and served him a notice to appear before an immigration judge.

The FGR apprehended Michel Bacasegua-Barriga after extensive bilateral cooperation between the United States and Mexico. In addition to Bacasegua-Barriga’s arrest, the operation resulted in the seizure of firearms and ammunition.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Raul Arias Marxuach sentenced Francisco Xavier Ortiz-Colon to 30 years in prison, 10 years of supervised release, and registration as a sex offender for nine counts of production of child pornography, eight counts of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual conduct, one count of receipt of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.

Kevin Grant McMillan, 36, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to life in federal prison without parole.

HSI Charleston Special Agent Brian Morris was recognized at the annual Crime Victims Assistance Awards Ceremony May 9 at the West Virginia State Capitol Building for his human trafficking investigation into a former law enforcement officer who recently received convictions for sex trafficking and obstruction charges.

The 23-year-old citizen of Jamaica was originally authorized to enter the United States under a temporary tourist visa for a limited time but remained beyond the terms of his visa.

Robert Quido Stella, 50, was found guilty of three counts of producing child pornography, each of which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in federal prison.

Robin Salinas Macal, 30, a Mexican national, was removed after having recently served time at the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu for distribution of narcotics.

The surge, labeled Operation Blue Lotus, was launched by DHS along the Southwest Border, including the Southern and Central districts of California and the District of Arizona, from March 13 to May 10, 2023.

Rami Abuziyad, 42, entered the United States at the Memphis International Airport in Tennessee on Dec. 20, 2004, as a nonimmigrant with authorization to remain in the United States until June 19, 2005.

The 41-year-old citizen of Guatemala originally entered the United States unlawfully three times in 2001. The U.S. Border Patrol apprehended him on all three occasions and he voluntarily returned each time.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Ross Roggio, 54, of Stroudsburg, arranged for Kurdish soldiers to abduct and detain the victim at a Kurdish military compound.

The United States has a longstanding policy of removing foreign nationals who lack a lawful basis to stay in the United States.

Kemal Mrndzic, 50, was charged with falsifying, concealing and covering up a material fact from the U.S. government by trick, scheme or device; using a fraudulently obtained U.S. passport; and possessing and using a fraudulently obtained naturalization certificate and fraudulently obtained Social Security card. Mrndzic was arrested May 17, and following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston before Chief Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley, was released on a $30,000 cash bond.

Brenda Belinda Barba, 33, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for exporting pistols to Mexico from the United States. She will also serve three years of supervised release. At the hearing, U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez heard additional evidence regarding WhatsApp messages Barba sent on the morning of her arrest to negotiate the firearm purchases and transport.

U.S. District Judge Micaela Alvarez sentenced Joseph Gray Jr., 47, to 360 months in federal prison for smuggling meth. His co-defendant, Jasmine Cecelia Dorsey, 28, was ordered to serve 64 months in prison for the same offense. Both Gray and Dorsey must also serve five and three years, respectively, of supervised release following incarceration.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted multiple removal flights including Ecuador, Guatemala and Honduras as part of dozens of flights conducted each week.

Richard O’Connor, 45, of Anaheim, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.

Roberto Lugardo Moreno Jr., 42, of Harlingen, pleaded guilty to aiding the smuggling of a firearm into Mexico knowing it was intended for members of the Gulf Cartel.

Kyle William Leishear, 43, of Bayonet Point, Florida, received a 20-year prison sentence May 11. On April 25, Leishear’s three co-defendants received prison sentences for their roles in the enterprise: Christopher William Kuehner, 38, of Bremerton, Washington, received a 20-year sentence; Jacob Royce Mullins, 20, of South Webster, Ohio, received a seven-year sentence; and Matthew Martin, 25, of Lancaster, Wisconsin, received a sentence of six years and eight months in prison.

ERO New York City apprehended 10 unlawfully present noncitizens convicted of various felony offenses, including rape and homicide, between May 1 and May 4.

Carlos Alberto Castro-Ruiz, 26, of Phoenix, is scheduled to be sentenced on July 18.

ICE conducted multiple removal flights today, including El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Israel, as part of dozens of flights conducted each week.