ERO Baltimore targeted operation yields 5 arrests in 1 day

BALTIMORE - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations Baltimore conducted a targeted operation Oct. 18, resulting in the arrest of five unlawfully present noncitizen offenders throughout Maryland.

"This targeted operation resulted in the arrest of five noncitizens with serious criminal histories including fentanyl distribution, gang activity, drug cartel association, assault, and sexual assault," said ERO Baltimore Field Office Director Matthew Elliston. "ERO Baltimore will not tolerate these egregious noncitizen offenders victimizing our Maryland communities.

Deportation officers with ERO Baltimore's Fugitive Operations Team arrested the following individuals:

• Romeo Almengor Oxlaj-Lopez, a 24-year-old unlawfully present Guatemalan noncitizen and documented gang member who was originally apprehended Dec. 17, 2014, by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Douglas, Arizona. Oxlaj was ordered removed from the United States Aug. 6, 2019. Oxlaj was convicted April 26, 2022, by the Montgomery County Circuit Court, for second-degree assault and sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in prison.
• Denis Flores-Alvardo, a 38-year-old unlawfully present Honduran noncitizen who entered the United States at an unknown location without inspection by a U.S. immigration official. He was arrested Feb. 2 by the Howard County Police Department Feb. 2, and charged with having a loaded handgun and driving while under the influence of alcohol. Flores was convicted Sept. 30 and sentenced to 364 days in prison.
• Noe Antonio Machado-Medrano, a 29-year-old unlawfully present Salvadoran noncitizen who entered United States at an unknown location without inspection by a U.S. immigration official. The U.S. District Court in Oregon convicted Machado Nov. 4, 2020, for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and sentenced him to time served followed by three years of supervised release.
• Justin Jeremiah Johnson is an 18-year-old Trinidadian noncitizen who lawfully entered the United States May 2, 2021, at John F. Kennedy Airport, New York; however, he violated the terms of his admission. The Baltimore City Circuit Court Maryland convicted Johnson of robbery Sept. 30 and sentenced him to eight years in prison followed by three years of supervised probation.
• Jose Edgar Rivas-Arevalo, a 41-year-old unlawfully present Salvadoran noncitizen who was apprehended and processed for expedited removal June 26, 2008, after entering the United States near Hebbronville, Texas. He was removed Aug. 28, 2008, to El Salvador. Rivas then unlawfully re-entered the United States at an unknown location without inspection by a U.S. immigration official. The District Court of Baltimore County convicted him Oct. 8 of second-degree assault and sentenced him to 18 months in prison to be followed by one year of supervised probation.

All individuals will remain in custody pending removal proceedings.

ERO conducts removals of individuals without a lawful basis to remain in the United States, including at the order of immigration judges with the Justice Department's Executive Office for Immigration Review. EOIR is a separate entity from DHS and ICE. Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case, determining if a noncitizen is subject to a final order of removal or eligible for certain forms of relief from removal.

ERO is one of ICE's three operational directorates and the principal federal law enforcement authority in charge of domestic immigration enforcement. ERO's mission is to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of U.S. communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws, and its primary areas of focus are interior enforcement operations, management of the agency's detained and non-detained populations, and repatriation of noncitizens who have received final orders of removal. ERO's workforce consists of more than 7,700 law enforcement and non-law enforcement support personnel across 25 domestic field offices and 208 locations nationwide, 30 overseas postings, and multiple temporary duty travel assignments along the border.

Members of the public 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 mission to increase public safety in our New England communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @EROBaltimore.