BUFFALO, N.Y. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Wahota Allassane Ouattara, a 38-year-old citizen of Côte d’Ivoire, on July 23 following his release from the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision in Comstock. Ouattara, who was in the U.S. unlawfully, has a criminal record that includes nine convictions, among them arson and assault.
Ouattara entered the United States as a nonimmigrant but violated his visa terms by failing to depart by October 7, 2016. ICE first encountered him October 25, 2024, following his most recent incarceration. He was issued a notice to appear and placed in removal proceedings on January 8.
“This criminal alien not only violated our nation’s federal immigration laws, but he has repeatedly proven his complete disregard for New York State penal laws as well,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Buffalo Deputy Field Office Director Joseph Freden.
His U.S. criminal convictions include:
- Two counts of third-degree assault and one count of second-degree aggravated harassment from February 9, 2022
- One count of second-degree criminal trespass on September 9, 2022, and two additional counts on January 27, 2023
- Third-degree assault on May 23, 2024
- Third-degree arson and attempted robbery, both on July 25, 2024
Ouattara is currently being held in ICE custody pending the outcome of his immigration court proceedings.
