ICE - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

09/17/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/17/2024 09:12

ERO Boston arrests Brazilian national charged with sex crimes against Massachusetts resident

NANTUCKET, Mass. - Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston apprehended an unlawfully present Brazilian noncitizen charged with sex crimes against a Nantucket resident. Officers with ERO Boston arrested Gean Do Amaral Belafronte Sept. 11 on Nantucket Island.

"Gean Do Amaral Belafronte unlawfully entered the United States, made his way to Nantucket, and allegedly sexually assaulted one of our residents," said ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons. "We have been consistent in our promise to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing egregious noncitizen offenders. This is not a hollow expression; it is a sincere promise to the residents of our New England communities."

Belafronte lawfully entered the United States on Oct 8, 2018. However, he violated the terms of his lawful admission. He voluntarily departed the United States April 18, 2021.

Belafronte unlawfully reentered the United States on an unknown date, at an unknown location, without being inspected, admitted or paroled by a U.S. immigration official.

Nantucket Police arrested Belafronte June 9 and charged him with indecent assault and battery on a person 14 years or older.

The Nantucket District Court released Belafronte March 12 on bail.

Officers with ERO Boston arrested Belafronte Sept. 11 on Nantucket Island and served him with a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge. Belafronte remains in ERO custody.

ERO conducts removals of individuals without a lawful basis to remain in the United States, including at the order of immigration judges with Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review. The Executive Office for Immigration Review is a separate entity from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 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.

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

As one of ICE's three operational directorates, ERO is 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.

Learn more about ERO Boston's mission to increase public safety in our New England communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @EROBoston.