Brooklawn, NJ — A man with an outstanding sexual assault warrant in Pennsylvania and a prior deportation order was arrested April 1 during a targeted operation in southern New Jersey, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Newark identified the man as Patricio Fernando Ramon-Vacacela, a citizen of Ecuador who had previously been ordered removed from the United States in 2020.
Arrest tied to warrant and prior removal order
According to ICE, officers located Ramon-Vacacela in Brooklawn and took him into custody as part of an enforcement effort focused on individuals with existing removal orders and alleged criminal activity.
The agency said Ramon-Vacacela is wanted by authorities in Pennsylvania on a sexual assault charge, though no additional details about the case or the issuing jurisdiction were provided.
ICE did not indicate whether he faces any new federal charges in connection with the warrant or his immigration status.
Custody status and enforcement context
Ramon-Vacacela remains in ICE custody following the April 1 arrest, officials said, pending further immigration proceedings that could result in his removal from the United States.
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Key Points
• ICE Newark arrested an Ecuadoran man April 1 in Brooklawn, New Jersey
• He has an outstanding sexual assault warrant in Pennsylvania, according to ICE
• He was previously ordered removed from the U.S. in 2020 and remains in custody
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Cross-state warrant adds complexity
Cases involving individuals wanted by authorities in another state can involve coordination between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials, though ICE did not specify whether Pennsylvania agencies requested assistance or placed a detainer.
The agency also did not release information about when the warrant was issued or the status of any potential extradition or transfer to Pennsylvania authorities.
What happens next
ICE has not announced a timeline for Ramon-Vacacela’s removal proceedings or whether he will be transferred to Pennsylvania to face the sexual assault charge before any deportation action.
His current detention location and court dates have not been made public, and no further updates on the case have been released.