The recent removal of a 23-year-old Brazilian fugitive from the United States by ERO Boston has highlighted the agency’s commitment to upholding public safety and ensuring that individuals facing criminal charges in their home countries are held accountable for their actions. Felipe Augusto De Oliveira, wanted in Brazil for attempted homicide, was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol after unlawfully entering the United States near Lukeville, Arizona on March 28, 2023.
After being released on an order of recognizance, De Oliveira’s presence in Massachusetts was confirmed, leading to his arrest by deportation officers from ERO Boston in Lowell on May 2. Brazilian authorities had issued a warrant for his arrest for the charge of attempted homicide, prompting the Department of Justice immigration judge to order his removal from the United States to Brazil on July 1.
Deportation officers from ERO Boston executed the removal on July 26, turning De Oliveira over to Brazilian authorities to face justice for his alleged crime. If convicted, De Oliveira could face up to 30 years in prison, underscoring the seriousness of the charges against him.
ERO Boston, as part of ICE’s operational directorates, plays a crucial role in domestic immigration enforcement by apprehending and removing individuals without a lawful basis to remain in the United States. The agency works closely with immigration judges from the Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review to ensure that noncitizens are either removed from the country or granted relief from removal based on the merits of their individual cases.
With a workforce of over 7,700 law enforcement and non-law enforcement personnel across 25 domestic field offices and 208 locations nationwide, ERO focuses on interior enforcement operations, managing detained and non-detained populations, and repatriating noncitizens with final orders of removal. The agency’s mission is to protect the homeland by upholding the integrity of U.S. immigration laws and safeguarding the safety of U.S. communities.
Members of the public are encouraged to report crimes or suspicious activity involving noncitizen offenders by contacting the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE or submitting an online tip form. ERO Boston also engages with the community through social media platforms like X (formerly known as Twitter) to increase awareness of its mission and promote public safety in New England communities.
The successful removal of Felipe Augusto De Oliveira underscores ERO Boston’s dedication to enforcing immigration laws and holding individuals accountable for their actions, regardless of their nationality. By working collaboratively with other law enforcement agencies and judicial entities, ERO continues to prioritize public safety and uphold the rule of law in the United States.