An individual suspected of being an illegal immigrant was apprehended in the Northeast US and is wanted for severe offenses in their home country.

An individual from Colombia who was detained by ICE in Massachusetts this week and is wanted for aggravated homicide in his home country was released into the U.S. last year.

In 2014, a 49-year-old national was arrested in Colombia and charged with aggravated homicide, aggravated theft, and possession of a weapon. He was convicted and sentenced to 17 years in prison in 2016.

In November 2023, ICE announced that a person was apprehended by Border Patrol near San Luis, Arizona, for entering the country illegally. Despite this, the individual was released into the U.S. on their own recognizance and issued a notice to appear before an immigration judge.

ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested him in Pittsfield on May 6, and he will now be held in custody, according to ICE.

ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd Lyons stated that this Colombian national is wanted in his home country for some very serious crimes.

"He tried to evade responsibility in Massachusetts, but now he must face the consequences," he stated. "ERO Boston will persist in safeguarding our New England communities by vigorously capturing and expelling the most flagrant noncitizen offenders."

The Biden administration recently announced a new rule that allows officials to remove some illegal immigrants who pose a public safety or national security threat earlier in the asylum process.

Typically, statutory denials to asylum are applied earlier at the initial screening process, which happens within days of someone arriving at the border, rather than later in the asylum process. This applies to those who are considered a risk to national security, including terrorists, or public safety.

The DHS senior official stated that the new tool, although it may only affect a small population, would be a valuable addition to their security measures at the border, allowing for quicker removal of individuals who pose a risk to the US, while also saving taxpayer money.