U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) apprehended Rene Pop-Chub, a Guatemalan national, in Hyattsville, Maryland, following his release by the Prince George's County Department of Corrections. The arrest occurred on April 12 after local authorities did not honor an ICE immigration detainer.
Pop-Chub faces pending charges, including murder, second-degree assault, and reckless endangerment. ICE Baltimore Acting Field Office Director Nikita Baker emphasized the importance of cooperation between federal and local authorities, stating, "The arrest of Rene Pop-Chub underscores the critical importance of cooperation between federal and local counterparts. When jurisdictions refuse to honor our immigration detainers, they put their own communities at risk — as was the case here, where a dangerous illegal alien charged with murder and assault was released back onto the streets. Thanks to the unwavering dedication and tireless efforts of our officers, this individual has been taken back into custody. Their work ensures that he will now face justice and will no longer pose a threat to public safety in Maryland."
Previously, the U.S. Border Patrol arrested Pop in 2013 in Texas and ordered his expedited removal, sending him back to Guatemala in September of the same year. He was detained again in 2017 in Arizona after unlawfully reentering the United States and subsequently deported to Guatemala later that year.
Pop-Chub reentered the country for a third time under unknown circumstances without official inspection. His arrest last August involved charges of first-degree assault, leading ICE to lodge an immigration detainer with local corrections in October. The Circuit Court forwarded his case, including serious charges such as murder and assault. Despite these circumstances, the Prince George's County Corrections released Pop-Chub on April 8, resulting in his subsequent arrest by ICE.
ICE has transferred custody of Pop to the U.S. Marshals Service, and continues to encourage public reporting of crimes and suspicious activities through their hotlines.
Additional information about ICE's mission for community safety is available on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @EROBaltimore.
