ICE officers in New York City have taken into custody a Guatemalan man previously removed from the U.S., citing his past criminal convictions and illegal re-entry into the country. The arrest of Yoni Wilfredo Gregorio Ortiz, 44, occurred on Sunday in the village of Airmont, according to an official statement from ICE. Ortiz was found guilty of third-degree assault and charges related to endangering a child, demonstrating what the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations New York City acting Field Office Director William P. Joyce described as "a complete disregard for our criminal laws."
Joyce doubled down on ICE's stance, expressing the agency's commitment to community safety: "Not only does Gregorio have contempt for our nation’s immigration laws as proven by his illegal return after being previously removed, but he has also shown a complete disregard for our criminal laws as well," Joyce said. "ICE New York City will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing illegal alien offenders from our communities," ICE reported.
Ortiz's unlawful presence in the U.S. dates back to a December 10, 2012 incident when U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested him after an illegal entry. The next day, he was processed for expedited removal and subsequently deported to Guatemala on January 10, 2013. However, Ortiz managed to return to the U.S. at some point without undergoing inspection by an immigration official. His criminal record includes a conviction for third-degree assault by the Spring Valley Village Court on September 1, 2022, and convictions for act in manner to injure a child and criminal mischief by the Rockland County Court on June 3, 2024.
At the time of his ICE arrest, Ortiz had an outstanding warrant for DWI and is now being held at the Orange County Jail in Goshen, New York. The enforcement agency encourages the public to report crimes and suspicious activities through its hotline or an online tip form. More information on ERO New York's mission can be found on X, under the handle @ERONewYork.
