EATONTOWN, NJ – The Philadelphia office of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) successfully removed Thalles Mendes Ribeiro, a Brazilian national, back to Brazil on January 26. Ribeiro, a foreign fugitive, is wanted in Brazil for serious crimes, including false imprisonment and rape.
ERO Philadelphia’s action underscores the agency’s commitment to public safety. “Protecting the American public from dangerous individuals is our top priority,” stated ERO Philadelphia Field Office Director Cammilla Wamsley. The agency aims to rigorously pursue individuals posing threats to public security.
Ribeiro’s apprehension and removal follow his illegal entry into the United States near San Ysidro, California, on June 10, 2021. Initially detained by the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP), he was charged with inadmissibility for entering without authorization. He was then transferred to ERO custody and released under the Alternatives to Detention program, with instructions to report to ERO Newark.
However, Ribeiro failed to appear at his scheduled immigration hearing on February 24, 2023, leading to an in absentia removal order by an immigration judge in Newark, New Jersey. ERO Newark later apprehended him on December 4, 2023, during a targeted enforcement operation in Eatontown, New Jersey. Following his detention, he was transferred to ERO Philadelphia, held at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Philipsburg, pending his deportation.
ERO is dedicated to the enforcement of immigration laws within the United States, focusing on the arrest and removal of individuals who have no lawful basis to remain in the country. This mission includes managing detained and non-detained populations and ensuring the repatriation of noncitizens with final orders of removal. ERO’s efforts are crucial in maintaining the integrity of U.S. immigration laws and safeguarding the nation’s communities.