stanforddams/biglocal huggingface dataset:
March 5, 2025St. Louis, MO, United StatesEnforcement and Removal

ICE Chicago removes Sierra Leonean convicted of visa fraud

The man was associated with Revolutionary United Front in Western Africa

ST. LOUIS – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement completed the removal of Prince Solomon Knox, 62, a Sierra Leonean national, to his home country March 1. Knox was arrested by ICE in St. Louis Feb. 4; he has previous convictions for visa fraud and domestic assault after lying about his prior affiliation with armed terrorist groups.

Knox entered the U.S. at Chicago O’Hare International Airport April 14, 2004, and came to the attention of ICE in 2006 through an investigation involving allegations of fraud by ineligible combatants or imposter refugees to participate in the refugee resettlement program. The investigation revealed witnesses who provided testimony about involvement with multiple combatant groups in Western Africa, including the Revolutionary United Front, a group that made extensive use of child soldiers while committing acts such as amputating the hands, arms, and legs of tens of thousands of Sierra Leoneans using machetes.

“Foreign nationals, from any country, cannot be allowed to abuse the visa system and migrate to the U.S. fraudulently,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Chicago Field Office Director Sam Olson. “This is an example of someone not only attempting to escape responsibility in their home country, but also depriving those in the global community of the opportunity to seek desperately needed relief.”

The investigation resulted in a federal grand jury indicting Knox on two counts of visa fraud and two counts of false statements, and ICE arrested him Dec. 21, 2006. Knox was convicted June 20, 2007, by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and sentenced to twelve months incarceration.

An immigration judge ordered Knox removed June 6, 2008, while in custody, and he was later placed under an order of supervision pending removal.

Updated: 08/26/2025
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March 14, 2025Cincinnati, OH, United StatesEnforcement and Removal

ICE Cincinnati arrests Bhutanese national with sex crime conviction

CINCINNATI — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested illegally present Roshan Tamang, a citizen of Bhutan, March 11, who had a final order of removal.

Tamang has convictions of gross sexual imposition, interfering with an arresting officer, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal mischief, and criminal trespass.

“Tamang’s rap sheet highlights the serious threat that he poses to our community especially with charges like gross sexual imposition,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Detroit Field Office Director Robert Lynch. “Our ICE officers continue to provide for our shared public safety by arresting and removing criminal aliens and immigration violators.”

Members of the public can report immigration crimes or suspicious activity by dialing the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

Learn more about ICE Detroit’s mission to increase public safety in our Michigan and Ohio communities on X at @ERODetroit.

Updated: 06/13/2025
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March 4, 2025Cincinnati, OH, United StatesEnforcement and Removal

ICE Cincinnati arrests Bulgarian with firearm and eluding conviction

CINCINNATI — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Simeon Roosenov Moutafov, a citizen of Bulgaria, Feb. 24 with a final order of removal.

Moutafov has convictions of aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer in Madison County, Illinois.

“Moutafov is an aggravated felon with no legal status in United States and will be headed back to his home country,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Detroit Field Office Director Robert Lynch. “I’m proud of our officers’ efforts to ensure safer communities by removing public safety and national security threats.”

Members of the public can report immigration crimes or suspicious activity by dialing the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

Learn more about ICE Detroit’s mission to increase public safety in our Michigan and Ohio communities on X at @ERODetroit.

Updated: 06/13/2025
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February 13, 2025Cincinnati, OH, United StatesEnforcement and Removal

ICE Cincinnati arrests illegal alien convicted of sex crimes

CINCINNATI — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Ciro Teodoro-Rivera, a criminal alien from Mexico with a conviction for sexual imposition and aggravated assault, in Cincinnati Feb. 10.

“The arrest and removal of illegal alien sex offenders remains a top priority for our agency,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Detroit Field Office Director Robert Lynch. “Our communities should not be a safe haven for these bad actors.”

Teodoro remains in ICE custody pending his removal.

Members of the public can report immigration crimes or suspicious activity by dialing the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

Learn more about ICE Detroit’s mission to increase public safety in our Michigan and Ohio communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ERODetroit and @HSIDetroit

Updated: 06/13/2025
August 13, 2025Cincinnati, OH, United StatesHuman Rights Violators

ICE Cincinnati removes convicted coup leader to Burkina Faso

CINCINNATI — ICE removed a convicted Burkinabe coup leader from the United States following his arrest on June 9, 2025, by ICE Detroit agents and officers in Cincinnati.

Daouda Begnon II Kone was removed to Burkina Faso Aug. 5 pursuant to a final order of removal from an immigration judge.

During his immigration proceedings, the court found Kone was ineligible for immigration benefits and that he participated and assisted in the persecution of others during the Sept. 16, 2015, coup d’etat while he was a member of the Presidential Security Regiment under the regime of President Blaise Compaore.

Kone was convicted in Burkina Faso of complicity in an attack on state security, voluntary assault and battery, and murder. He was sentenced to serve seven years in prison, including five years suspended.

“The removal of Kone underscores the important work of ICE HSI agents in investigating those who apply for immigration benefits under false pretenses,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “You cannot come to the U.S. and try to hide war crimes.”

“The dedicated officers of ERO Detroit are committed to removing this public safety threat and others like him from our communities across Michigan and Ohio,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Detroit acting Field Office Director Kevin Raycraft. “I encourage members of the public to report additional human rights violators to the ICE tipline at 866-DHS-2-ICE.”

The case was investigated by HSI New York and supported by the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center along with significant assistance from HSI and ERO Detroit’s Cincinnati sub-office.

Established in 2009, the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center furthers the government’s efforts to identify, locate and prosecute human rights abusers in the U.S., including those who are known or suspected to have participated in persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, female genital mutilation and the use or recruitment of child soldiers. Currently, HSI has more than 180 active investigations into suspected human rights violators and is pursuing more than 1,945 leads and removals cases involving suspected human rights violators from 95 different countries. Since 2003, the HRVWCC has issued more than 79,000 lookouts for potential perpetrators of human rights abuses, and stopped over 390 human rights violators and war crimes suspects from entering the U.S.

Members of the public who have information about potential former human rights violators in the U.S. are urged to contact U.S. law enforcement through the ICE tip line at 866-DHS-2-ICE. They can also email HRV.ICE@ice.dhs.gov or complete the online tip form.

Updated: 08/14/2025
April 16, 2025Cincinnati, OH, United StatesChild Exploitation

ICE Cincinnati seeks additional victims in alleged child exploitation case

CINCINNATI — Special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Jonathan Travis Mackey, a 46-year-old resident of Cincinnati, Ohio, on charges related to alleged sexual exploitation of children and receipt of child sex abuse material April 15.

Investigators allege he exploited victims both online and in-person.

Mackey operated online under the username “john370000#0” and “johnm1861#0.

Jonathan Mackey held a position of public trust as an employee of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and ICE Homeland Security Investigations wants to identify any other victims/survivors.

If you have any information that may be relevant to this investigation, please contact the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE.

The FDIC Office of Inspector General assisted in this investigation.

ICE HSI takes a victim-centered approach to child exploitation investigations by working to identify, rescue and stabilize victims. ICE encourages the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free tip line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or by completing its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock. From outside the United States and Canada, dial 802-872-6199. Hearing impaired users may call TTY 802-872-6196. Please mention your tip is related to this press release.

Updated: 04/17/2025
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February 19, 2025Columbus, OH, United StatesEnforcement and Removal

ICE Columbus and US Marshals arrest Ecuadorian illegal alien wanted for murder

COLUMBUS, Ohio - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Marshals Service arrested Luis Naula-Candelario, a criminal alien from Ecuador who is wanted in his home country for murder, in Pickerington, Ohio, Feb. 12.

“Foreign fugitives will find no safe haven, here in Ohio or across the U.S., for crimes they committed in their home countries,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Detroit Field Office Director Robert Lynch. “By removing these fugitives from our communities, we not only prevent them from victimizing Americans but also ensure that justice is served for their victims abroad.”

Naula remains in ICE custody pending further immigration proceedings.

Members of the public can report immigration crimes or suspicious activity by dialing the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

Learn more about ICE Detroit’s mission to increase public safety in our Michigan and Ohio communities on X at @ERODetroit.

Updated: 06/13/2025
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February 2, 2025Columbus, OH, United StatesEnforcement and Removal

ICE Columbus arrests Ghanaian national convicted of sex crimes with a minor

COLUMBUS, Ohio — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended a citizen of Ghana who was convicted of sex crimes with a minor when officers arrested Joseph Osei Boateng January 29 in Columbus, Ohio.

“Sex crimes against a minor threaten the very fabric of our communities,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Detroit Field Office Director Robert Lynch. “Our ICE team will continue to identify and apprehend individuals amenable to removal who have victimized our most vulnerable population.

The Ghanaian national legally entered the U.S. in 2019. He was convicted of two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor by the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas in October 2024.

Boateng remains in ICE custody pending the outcome of his immigration proceedings.

Members of the public can report immigration crimes or suspicious activity by dialing the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

Learn more about ICE Detroit’s mission to increase public safety in our Michigan and Ohio communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @ERODetroit or @HSIDetroit.

Updated: 06/13/2025
October 15, 2025Washington, DC, United StatesStudent and Exchange Visitor Program

ICE conducts visits to employers in Northern Virginia to ensure legal compliance when hiring foreign student workers

Initial results show evidence of potential fraud

WASHINGTON, D.C. — ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations directorate has recently conducted site visits to investigate fraud by employers in Northern Virginia that hire F-1 foreign students. ICE officials discovered evidence of noncompliance and potential fraud, including evidence of nonfunctional or staged worksites and supervisors who lacked knowledge of laws and regulations related to employing foreign students while visiting local IT services companies.

In one instance, ICE investigated an employer after discovering its reported place of business was a home in the Virginia suburbs that supposedly employs dozens of foreign students via the Optional Practical Training program.

"ICE remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the integrity of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program and ensuring that foreign students, educational institutions and employers participating in the program adhere to U.S. laws and regulations," said acting ICE Director Todd M. Lyons. "Individuals who seek to exploit the immigration system have no place within this program. ICE will take decisive action to hold bad actors accountable and will intensify investigations to mitigate fraud and address security risks associated with the Optional Practical Training programs."

Site visits allow ICE to ensure compliance with OPT regulations, which allow foreign students to work in the United States for a period of years. Since its inception, the OPT program has prompted a variety of concerns from Congress, national security officials, watchdog agencies and trade organizations, including fraud and the displacement of American workers by foreign nationals.

Updated: 10/15/2025
June 11, 2025Baton Rouge, LA, United StatesWorksite Enforcement

ICE conducts worksite inspections at Baton Rouge massage parlors

On June 11, 2025, HSI Baton Rouge conducted a worksite enforcement operation at nine (9) illicit massage businesses in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana metropolitan area. Agents obtained entry to the premises based on state criminal search warrants for prostitution and pandering. As a result of the operation, ten (10) Chinese-national females were detained by HSI for further identification and removal processing. Interviews are currently being conducted to determine removability. Bulk cash and other evidence was seized during the operation and is actively being counted and analyzed. The Attorney General of Louisiana, Liz Murrill, and the District Attorney of East Baton Rouge Parish, Hillar Moore, participated in the operation and remain on scene at the HSI Baton Rouge command post.

This is a joint investigation between HSI and the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office with support from Enforcement and Removal Operations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Border Patrol, the Louisiana Attorney General, the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s Office, the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, the Baton Rouge Police Department, the Zachary Police Department, Baton Rouge Fire Department and the St. George Police and Fire Departments.

Updated: 08/21/2025
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May 28, 2025New Orleans, LA, United StatesWorksite Enforcement

ICE conducts worksite inspections in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with the support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations, arrested 15 illegal aliens May 27 during a targeted worksite enforcement operation at construction sites in the New Orleans area.

The multiagency operation, directed by ICE Homeland Security Investigations New Orleans, led to the arrest of 15 illegal aliens from Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

“Worksite enforcement investigations focus on reducing illegal employment, holding employers accountable and protecting employment opportunities for the country's lawful workforce,” said ICE HSI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune. “HSI New Orleans will continue protecting public safety by enforcing the immigration laws of our nation.”

The main function of ICE HSI’s worksite enforcement program is to assist the field in maintaining the integrity in the U.S. immigration system, ease pressure at the borders, promote self-compliance in the business community, and protect employment opportunities for the nation's workforce.

ICE HSI conducts investigations that target egregious worksite violators. These investigations lead to criminal, civil, or administrative judgments against employers who knowingly hire unauthorized workers. These actions seek to deter employers who hire unauthorized workers. Investigations often uncover multiple forms of criminal activity, such as human smuggling, document fraud, human rights abuses and other violations linked to the employment of unauthorized workers.

ICE officials have continually emphasized the agency’s continued focus to identifying public safety and national security threats. Individuals unlawfully present in the United States who are encountered during enforcement operations may be taken into custody and processed for removal in accordance with federal law.

Members of the public with information about suspected immigration violations or related criminal activity are encouraged to contact the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or submit information online via the ICE Tip Form.

For more information about ICE HSI New Orleans and its efforts to enhance public safety in Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas, follow us on X at @HSINewOrleans.

Learn more about worksite enforcement by visiting ICE’s Worksite Enforcement Investigations.

Updated: 06/13/2025
May 2, 2026San Francisco, CA, United StatesEnforcement and Removal

ICE confirms suspect in San Francisco stabbing is Venezuelan criminal illegal alien who entered the US under Biden administration’s deadly ‘catch-and-release’ policies

ICE has lodged an immigration detainer against the suspect, who’s accused of stabbing to death a behavioral health clinician at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital

SAN FRANCISCO — ICE has confirmed that Wilfredo Jose Tortolero-Arriechi, the 35-year-old suspect in a deadly Dec. 4 stabbing at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, is a criminal illegal alien from Venezuela.

“Tortolero-Arriechi illegally entered the U.S. in 2023, was let go under the Biden administration’s catch-and-release policies, and ended up in the sanctuary city where Gavin Newsom was once mayor and Kamala Harris was the district attorney,” said ICE Director Todd M. Lyons.

U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered Tortolero-Arriechi in 2023, when he illegally entered the United States. The Biden administration released him back into the United States, where he disappeared into California before viciously stabbing to death 51-year-old Alberto Rangel. Rangel died Dec. 6, two days after the attack.

Tortolero-Arriechi pleaded not guilty to the homicide and use of a deadly weapon charges levied against him following Rangel’s death. In the weeks before the fatal attack, he allegedly threatened his doctor and multiple staff members.

Tortolero-Arriechi is currently in custody at the San Francisco County Jail, and on Dec. 11, ICE lodged an immigration detainer against him. ICE is calling on San Francisco to honor his detainer once he has been tried, sentenced, and serves his sentence.

You can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

Learn more about ICE’s public safety mission on X at @ICEgov.

Updated: 05/04/2026
April 16, 2026Miami, FL, United StatesDetainee Death Notifications

ICE criminal illegal alien detainee from Cuba passes away in Miami

MIAMI — Aled Damien Carbonell-Betancourt, 27, a criminal illegal alien from Cuba passed away in ICE custody. Carbonell-Betancourt had been arrested for resisting an officer with violence. On April 12, 2026, at approximately 6:30 a.m., a Federal Detention Center officer discovered Carbonell-Betancourt in his cell in what appeared to be a suicide attempt. The officer immediately called a medical emergency, and staff began cardiopulmonary resuscitation. City of Miami Fire Rescue arrived at the facility and continued resuscitative efforts. Despite life-saving measures, at approximately 7:31 a.m., Miami Fire Rescue pronounced Carbonell-Betancourt dead.

Carbonell-Betancourt died of a presumed suicide; however, the official cause of death remains under investigation.

He initially entered the United States on Oct. 30, 2024. He was encountered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, issued a Notice to Appear as an immigrant without valid documents, and released on parole. He was encountered by ICE at the Miami Dade County Jail Nov. 22, 2025, following his arrest for resisting an officer with violence and he was subsequently transferred into ICE custody Feb. 11, 2026 pending immigration removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review.

Consistent with ICE policy, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) notified the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the DHS Office of Inspector General, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility via the Integrity Coordination Center. ERO also notified the Cuban Embassy in accordance with international and domestic laws, as well as his next of kin or other designated contact.

ICE makes official notifications to Congress, nongovernmental organization stakeholders and the media upon official reports of in-custody alien deaths and posts news releases with relevant details on ICE's public website. You may access this information in ICE.gov’s Newsroom. Congressional requirements described in the DHS Appropriations Act of 2018 require ICE to publicize all reports regarding in-custody deaths within 90 days. You may access these reports on ICE.gov’s Detainee Death Reporting page.

ICE is committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure, and humane environments. Comprehensive medical care is provided from the moment individuals arrive and throughout their stay. All people in ICE custody receive medical, dental, and mental health intake screenings within 12 hours of arriving at each detention facility; a full health assessment within 14 days of entering ICE custody or arriving at a facility; access to medical appointments; and 24-hour emergency care. At no time during detention is a detained noncitizen denied emergency care.

Updated: 04/16/2026