Brazilian migrant wanted on drug trafficking, theft charges filed in Massachusetts

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (TND) — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents announced Thursday the arrest of a fugitive Brazilian migrant wanted in his home country on drug trafficking and theft charges.

Authorities say they encountered the 32-year-old man during a traffic stop in Framingham, Massachusetts, earlier this month. He is now in ICE custody awaiting deportation.

The individual has reportedly had a Brazilian arrest warrant against him since 2022. In 2017, a Brazilian court sentenced the man to more than 17 years in prison, according to ICE.

Border Patrol agents say they first arrested the individual in March 2023 after he and his family entered the United States illegally in Arizona. Agents then issued the family a notice to appear in immigration court, according to ICE.

“This Brazilian fugitive attempted to flee justice in his home county and hide in Massachusetts,” said Todd Lyons, Boston Field Office Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations. “It poses a significant threat to the residents of our neighborhoods. We will not allow New England to become a haven for criminals from around the world. ERO Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by apprehending and removing egregious non-citizen offenders from our communities.

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Massachusetts has spent nearly $400,000 reviewing vaccination records of migrants and others staying in its shelters, according to a recent state financial report. This sum is in addition to the $591 million dedicated to the state's “emergency housing assistance program.”

ICE officials continue to capture migrants with criminal pasts across the East Coast. Agents this week announced the arrest of a Dominican Republic national in Baltimore on an outstanding arrest warrant for manslaughter.

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