Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston has recently taken into custody a Colombian national, Elkin Arturo Yarce-Munera, after convictions for domestic assault. According to an ICE news release, the 43-year-old was arrested on July 18 in Boston following a series of interactions with law enforcement, including previous detention by U.S. Border Patrol and release on a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge.
ERO Boston's Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons highlighted the threat Yarce-Munera posed to the community, stating, "Elkin Arturo Yarce-Munera has proven, more than once, to be a threat to the safety our Massachusetts residents." Lyons went on to say, "ERO Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by apprehending and removing egregious noncitizen offenders from our New England neighborhoods," according to ICE news release.
Yarce-Munera initially entered the United States unlawfully near Brownsville, Texas, and was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol on May 1, 2022. Despite being served a notice and ordered to appear before an immigration judge, multiple local jurisdictions failed to honor ERO Boston’s immigration detainers, which resulted in his release from custody. Eventually, Yarce-Munera was convicted on December 5, 2023, of assault and battery, among other charges, by Chelsea District Court.
ICE's use of immigration detainers is central to its strategy for ensuring the transition of noncitizens from state or local facilities to federal custody for removal. These detainers "conserve scarce government resources," enabling ERO to "take criminal noncitizens into custody directly rather than expending resources locating these individuals at-large." With Yarce-Munera now in ERO custody after subsequent criminal charges, the enforcement strategy seems to having taken its due course, as reported by ICE news release
ERO manages immigration enforcement and removes individuals without legal status in the U.S. The agency operates through many field offices nationwide. People can help by reporting crimes or suspicious activities involving noncitizens through ICE's Tip Line or online form.
