U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removed Solomon Bogale, a member of the Ethiopian paramilitary group Fano, to Ethiopia on March 4, according to a Mar. 10 announcement. The Ethiopian government has designated Fano as a terrorist organization.
Bogale, an Ethiopian citizen, entered the United States without inspection on Sept. 16, 2023. He was encountered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection two days later and placed in removal proceedings.
"Our officers continue to effect the removal of suspected human rights violators to their home countries," said ERO Phoenix acting Field Office Director Christopher McGregor. "ERO officers are committed to public safety and national security, and removing this individual from the United States serves both those priorities."
An immigration judge in Baltimore denied Bogale immigration benefits after ICE found multiple social media accounts where he identified himself as a member of Fano, which is classified as a Tier III terrorist group. In his posts, Bogale called for violence against ethnic Tigrayans and advocated for their "cleansing" from Ethiopia. The case was handled by ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor in Baltimore with assistance from the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center.
The Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center works to identify and prosecute human rights abusers in the United States, including those involved in war crimes or other serious violations. Since 2003, ICE has arrested more than 520 people for human rights-related offenses under various laws. During that time period, ICE has obtained deportation orders against 1,178 known or suspected human rights violators and facilitated the departures of another 208 individuals.
Anyone with information about possible former human rights violators residing in the United States is encouraged to contact law enforcement through the ICE Tip Line or online tip form.
