U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has completed the removal of Prince Solomon Knox, a 62-year-old national of Sierra Leone, to his home country on March 1. Knox was arrested by ICE in St. Louis on February 4 and has prior convictions for visa fraud and domestic assault after misrepresenting his past affiliations with armed terrorist groups.
Knox entered the United States at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on April 14, 2004. He came under ICE scrutiny in 2006 during an investigation into allegations of fraud by individuals posing as refugees or ineligible combatants seeking entry into the U.S. refugee resettlement program. The investigation uncovered witness testimonies regarding Knox's involvement with several combatant groups in Western Africa, including the Revolutionary United Front. This group is known for its extensive use of child soldiers and acts such as amputating limbs of tens of thousands of Sierra Leoneans using machetes.
Sam Olson, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Chicago Field Office Director, stated: “Foreign nationals, from any country, cannot be allowed to abuse the visa system and migrate to the U.S. fraudulently.” He further noted that Knox's actions deprived others globally from accessing much-needed relief.
The investigation led to a federal grand jury indicting Knox on two counts each of visa fraud and false statements. ICE arrested him on December 21, 2006. On June 20, 2007, he was convicted by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and sentenced to twelve months imprisonment.
An immigration judge ordered Knox's removal on June 6, 2008 while he remained in custody; he was subsequently placed under an order of supervision pending his removal.
