BOSTON, MA — Federal immigration authorities released details identifying dozens of violent offenders taken into custody during Operation Patriot 2.0, a month-long enforcement surge that led to the arrests of 1,406 illegal aliens across Massachusetts.
Among those captured were convicted killers, rapists, child predators, and gang members, many of whom had reentered the United States after prior deportations.
ICE officials called the group “the worst of the worst,” describing a list of offenders whose criminal histories include murder, child sexual assault, drug trafficking, and weapons offenses.
Key Points
- ICE identified 23 individuals as the most dangerous offenders detained during Operation Patriot 2.0.
- Several have prior homicide or child rape convictions and international warrants.
- Arrests occurred statewide, including in Worcester, Boston, Danvers, and Plymouth.
Violent offenders and child predators among those captured
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations detailed the apprehension of Jose Orellana-Pena, a 53-year-old citizen of El Salvador with convictions for indecent assault, assault to rape, and failure to register as a sex offender. Authorities said he had been deported before but reentered the country illegally.
Wellington Ramos-De Souza, 39, of Brazil, was arrested on a pending rape charge in Danvers, while Raj Kumar Sah, 34, of India, faces pending charges for indecent assault, child enticement, and human trafficking in Boston.
Agents also arrested Anderson Stephen Hernandez-Vasquez, 24, of Guatemala, who previously served two years in prison for raping a child in Woburn. Mauricio Eguizabal-Ovalle, 47, of El Salvador, faces multiple pending counts including statutory rape, aggravated rape of a child, and indecent assault in Bristol County.
Murders, assaults, and weapons offenses
Among the most violent arrests was Souvanheuang Phachansiri, 65, of Laos, convicted of second-degree murder and kidnapping in Boston, serving a prior life sentence before his immigration arrest.
Mario Augusto Lopes-Barros, 42, of Cape Verde, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and assault with a dangerous weapon in Bristol County, serving 12 years in prison. Perfecto Nolasco-Lopez, 21, of Guatemala, was convicted of indecent assault, kidnapping, and strangulation of a child in Essex County.
ICE also detained Ilhan Egritas, 46, of Turkiye, facing pending charges for assault to rape and kidnapping in Watertown, and Jordani Joseph, 26, of Haiti, charged with rape and kidnapping in Fall River.
Javier Zuniga, 59, of Mexico, is serving a 10-year sentence in Plymouth for raping a child under 14.
Foreign fugitives and international warrants
Agents identified several fugitives wanted abroad, including Francis Miguel Guerrero-Mejia, 43, of the Dominican Republic, wanted for homicide in his home country and convicted in Haverhill for drug trafficking.
Ubirajara Rodrigues-Pires, 37, of Brazil, was convicted of homicide in Minas Gerais and sentenced to 12 years in prison. Junio Souza-Pinho, 34, also of Brazil, was wanted on an Interpol Red Notice for firearms possession and ammunition charges.
Angel Joaquin Hernandez-Barrera, 36, of Guatemala, was wanted on a foreign warrant for weapons possession.
Drug traffickers and repeat offenders
Drug trafficking and weapons offenses were also prominent among the arrests. Wilbin Romero-Mejia, 46, of the Dominican Republic, has convictions for heroin and cocaine distribution and weapons possession.
Wildy Arias-Guerrero, 27, of the Dominican Republic, was convicted of fentanyl and cocaine trafficking in Lawrence, while Rossine Da Costa, 48, of Brazil, faces drug distribution charges in Milford.
Welington Aristy, 29, of the Dominican Republic, was charged with distributing fentanyl and cocaine and assault with a knife in Quincy.
Benito Novoa, 42, of El Salvador, faces pending charges for assault to murder and domestic violence in Chelsea. Wenceslao Montero-Ramirez, 48, of the Dominican Republic, was charged with trafficking heroin, morphine, and fentanyl in Dedham.
Xaymarny Sinbandith, 45, of Laos, was convicted of assault with a handgun, threatening, and stalking in Middlesex County, serving an 18-month sentence.
ICE vows continued enforcement
ICE officials said every individual on the list remains in federal custody pending removal proceedings. “These are dangerous individuals who should never have been allowed to remain in the United States,” Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said.
Officials said the operation demonstrates federal agencies’ shared commitment to removing violent offenders and restoring public safety in Massachusetts.
The public can report criminal or immigration-related activity by calling 866-DHS-2-ICE or submitting tips online.