ERO Philadelphia removes Brazilian noncitizen wanted in Brazil for sexual assault

PHILADELPHIA - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's, Enforcement and Removal Operations, Philadelphia Field Office, removed Guilherme Rodrigues Silva Rocha, a citizen of Brazil with a final order of removal, to Brazil on Nov. 22. Rodrigues is a foreign fugitive wanted by law enforcement authorities in Brazil after a conviction for bodily injury performed against a woman, for reason of sexual condition.

"ERO Philadelphia remains steadfast in its commitment to public safety. Removing individuals like Rodrigues, who have a history of serious criminal offenses, ensures that we fulfill our mission of protecting the American public," said Acting ERO Philadelphia Field Office Director Brian McShane. "We remain committed to collaborating with local, national, and international law enforcement agencies to ensure that fugitives are brought to justice and prevented from committing similar crimes within the United States."

The U.S. Border Patrol arrested Rodrigues near San Ysidro, California June 6, 2022, for entering the United States without inspection by an immigration official. The next day he was enrolled in the Alternatives to Detention Program and paroled into the United States with instructions to report to ERO Baltimore on June 21, 2022. He failed to report to ERO Baltimore as instructed.

On Aug. 28, 2023, authorities in Brazil convicted Rodrigues in absentia, of bodily injury performed against a woman, for reason of sexual condition. He was sentenced to one year incarceration.

ERO Baltimore arrested Rodrigues in Salisbury, Maryland Aug. 22 during an enforcement operation and served him with a notice to appear before an immigration judge, charging inadmissibility.

An immigration judge in Elizabeth, New Jersey ordered Rodrigues removed from the United States to Brazil Oct. 7.

As one of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) three operational directorates, Enforcement and Removal Operations (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.

Members of the public can report crimes or suspicious activity by calling 866-347-2423 or completing ICE's online tip form.

Learn more about ERO's mission to increase public safety in your community on X, formerly known as Twitter, @EROPhiladelphia.