Stories by Press release submission on Federal Newswire


IPR Center, NFL partner to prevent fake sports-related merchandise from reaching fans ahead of Super Bowl LVII

The National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) announced the seizure of approximately 180,000 counterfeit sports-related items, worth an estimated $22.7 million during a joint press conference with the National Football League (NFL).


ERO Boston arrests convicted unlawfully present Brazilian drug trafficker

Fugitive operations officers with Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston arrested Diogo De-Sales Gomes, a 34-year-old unlawfully present Brazilian citizen convicted and sentenced to prison in Brazil for drug trafficking, in Somerville on Feb. 3.


ERO Atlanta apprehends one of Ecuador’s most wanted criminals in South Carolina

Deportation officers from Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Atlanta arrested an Ecuadorian fugitive listed as one of the country’s 100 most wanted criminals.


HSI San Antonio investigation leads to 6 charged in deadly noncitizen smuggling ring

A Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Antonio investigation resulted in six people arrested on charges of smuggling, resulting in the death of eight.


ERO Washington removes Salvadoran national wanted in El Salvador for aggravated homicide

Deportation officers from Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington removed Gerson Geovanni Soto-Juarez, 26, a Salvadoran national wanted by Salvadoran authorities for aggravated homicide and illicit associations.


Homeland Security Investigations Arizona supports public safety at Super Bowl LVII

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Phoenix is implementing a year-long effort to provide essential public safety measures in and around the area for Super Bowl LVII. As a qualifying National Special Security Event, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas designated HSI Special Agent in Charge Scott Brown as the lead federal coordinator.


HSI Charleston, U.S. attorney’s office conduct anti-human trafficking workshop

Special agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Charleston teamed up with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia to conduct a day-long human trafficking training workshop Jan. 31 at the University of Charleston.


HSI Norfolk investigation leads to Virginia business owner admitting to money laundering, conspiracy involving labor trafficking

A Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Norfolk investigation led to a guilty plea from a Midlothian, Virginia man Jan. 31 for conspiring to defraud and commit offenses against the United States, including human trafficking of individuals from Central America; benefiting from forced labor; money laundering; and harboring undocumented non-citizens.


U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC), the FBI’s International Human Rights Unit (IHRU) and the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) joined national and international law enforcement partners and non-governmental organizations today in recognizing the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).


ERO San Antonio removes Honduran fugitive wanted for homicide in his home country

Officers with Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) San Antonio, with assistance from ERO Honduras and the Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement task force, removed an unlawfully present foreign fugitive wanted in Honduras for homicide on Jan. 27.


U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

A judge sentenced Robert Ficzner, 27, of Fishers, Indiana to 13 years in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material following a joint investigation between Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and other agencies.


ERO New York City removes Ecuadorian fugitive wanted for criminal conspiracy

Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) New York City removed Victor Hugo Chimbo-Ilbay, a citizen of Ecuador with a final order of removal, to Ecuador on Feb. 2.


ERO Miami extradites murder suspect to Boston to face trial

Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Tallahassee’s Criminal Alien Program team officers arrested a citizen of the Dominican Republic in Tallahassee after he served a five-year sentence for lewd and lascivious battery in Osceola County.


Guatemalan drug kingpin sentenced to over 17 years for drug trafficking following HSI investigation

A federal judge sentenced a high-level Guatemalan cartel boss to 210 months in federal prison on Jan. 27.


ERO Boston arrests foreign fugitive in Vermont wanted for financial crimes

Deportation officers with Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston arrested Myrat Mahadev, a 35-year-old citizen of Turkmenistan, in Vermont on Jan. 30. Muhadov, a noncitizen fugitive, had an active arrest warrant in Turkmenistan for charges related to financial crimes.


Nebraska man sentenced for possessing methamphetamine and a firearm following HSI, law enforcement partner investigation

Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Kansas City Taekuk Cho and United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that United States District Court Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Brandon Goodsell, 36, of Kearney to 210 months’ imprisonment on Feb. 1.


West Texas teacher sentenced to 20 years for child exploitation as result of HSI El Paso investigation

A federal judge in Alpine sentenced a Valentine man on Jan. 24 to 20 years in prison and 15 years of supervised release for distributing child sexual abuse material.


Update to Filing Location for Form I-360 and Form I-485 for Self-Petitioning Abused Spouses, Children, and Parents

Starting February 10, 2023, self-petitioning abused spouses, children, and parents must file Form I-360, Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or Special Immigrant, and Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, at the Nebraska Service Center instead of the Vermont Service Center.


USCIS Clarifies Physical Presence Guidance for Asylees and Refugees Applying for Adjustment of Status

Effective immediately, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify that both asylees and refugees must have been physically present in the United States for one year when we adjudicate their Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, rather than at the time they file their adjustment of status application.


Sens. Cruz, Graham, Lee, Cotton Raise Political Censorship Concerns with DirecTV’s Decision to Drop Conservative News Network Newsmax

U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), incoming Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), incoming Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) today sent a letter to the CEOs of DirectTV and its controlling shareholders, AT&T and TPG, voicing deep concerns about DirecTV’s recent decision to drop conservative news network Newsmax. The letter demands answers and information about the decision.