An Ecuadorian man convicted of rape in his native country who has been living illegally in the U.S. was recently brought back to Ecuador by Enforcement and Removal Operations officers working out of the New York City field office.

Rolando Eduardo Ballagan, 38, was turned over to authorities in Ecuador, according to a March 7 news release. 

“Dangerous criminals such as Mr. Ballagan seek to exploit our immigration laws in order to evade prosecution for their crimes," ERO New York City Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo said in the release. "We are committed to removing these fugitives from our communities and retuning them to their country of origin to face justice.”

Ballagan was flown to Jose Joaquin Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil, Ecuador, by charter flight coordinated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Air Operation Units March 2, the release stated. The flight left from Alexandria International Airport in Alexandria, La. 

It's unknown when or where Ballagan entered the U.S., but ERO officers arrested him May 10, 2022, the release reported. He was served with a Notice to Appear that accused him of being an unlawful resident without authorization or parole in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act. 

Federal immigration judges in immigration courts, which are run by the Justice Department's Executive Office for Immigration Review, ensure noncitizens who are subject to removal proceedings receive their legal due process, the release reported. Each case is evaluated on its own merits by immigration judges in these courts. Officers of the ERO execute removal orders issued by federal immigration judges.

ERO detained 46,396 noncitizens with criminal backgrounds for the fiscal year 2022, according to the release. There are 198,498 charges and convictions associated with this group, including 21,531 assault offenses, 8,164 sex and sexual assault offenses, 5,554 weapon offenses, 1,501 homicide-related offenses and 1,114 kidnapping offenses.