Enforcement and Removal Operations Baltimore arrested a Honduran national who was illegally present and had been convicted in Howard County of narcotics distribution charges. Deportation authorities from ERO Baltimore’s Fugitive Operations Team apprehended Nahun Ventura Ortiz-Isaguriz, 36, near his Ellicott City apartment.
According to ERO Baltimore’s acting Field Office Director, Matthew Elliston, Nahun Ventura Ortiz-Isaguriz has been found guilty of distributing poison to the residents of Maryland. Elliston further revealed that Ortiz had been deported from the United States twice before. Allowing such criminals to remain in the country puts the members of our migrant communities at a higher risk of being targeted and victimized. ERO Baltimore is committed to ensuring public safety by apprehending and deporting the most egregious noncitizen offenders from Maryland.
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On December 10, 2009, Ortiz was taken into custody by the U.S. Border Patrol for illegally entering the United States near Penitas, Texas. Following his arrest, Ortiz was presented with an expedited removal form and subsequently transferred to ERO Harlingen by the authorities. Ultimately, ERO Harlingen deported Ortiz to Honduras on December 30, 2009.
It is known that Ortiz entered the United States unlawfully, without inspection, admission, or parole by a U.S. immigration officer. However, the exact date and location of his entry remain unknown. Ortiz was apprehended by ERO Los Angeles on Aug. 16, 2011, and received a notice of intent/decision to reinstate a prior order. Later, on Sept. 7, 2011, he was transferred to ERO Phoenix’s custody. Finally, on Sept. 8, 2011, ERO Phoenix removed Ortiz from the United States and sent him back to Honduras.
It is unclear when and where Ortiz re-entered the United States without being inspected, admitted, or paroled by a U.S. immigration officer. However, on March 22, 2023, the Howard County Police Department in Maryland arrested him for drug-related offenses, including possession with intent to distribute. Following his arrest, the Pacific Enforcement Regional Center issued an immigration detainer against him, which was lodged with Maryland’s Howard County Detention Center.
Ortiz found himself in hot water when he was convicted of distributing narcotics by the Circuit Court for Howard County in Ellicott City on August 23, 2023. As a result of his actions, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, followed by two years of probation. However, the Howard County Police Department refused to honor the immigration detainer, and he was released from custody on August 23, 2023, after serving just 155 days of his sentence.
On June 10, the Fugitive Operations Team of ERO Baltimore apprehended Ortiz in Ellicott City and provided him with a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge. He is currently in ERO custody and will remain there until he is removed from the United States.
The United States’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency carries out the removals of individuals who do not possess a lawful basis to stay in the country. This is done as per the directives issued by the immigration judges of the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. It is important to note that the Executive Office for Immigration Review operates independently of the Department of Homeland Security and ICE. The immigration judges at these courts evaluate every individual case on its own merits and decide whether the noncitizen in question is eligible for certain forms of relief from removal or subject to a final order of removal.
To report any criminal activity or suspicious behavior, individuals can dial 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or fill out the ICE online tip form.
Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) is the primary federal law enforcement authority responsible for domestic immigration enforcement within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ERO’s primary objective is to safeguard the homeland by apprehending and deporting individuals who pose a threat to the safety of U.S. communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws. The directorate’s main focus is on interior enforcement operations, managing its detained and non-detained populations, and repatriating noncitizens who have received final orders of removal. ERO has over 7,700 personnel, including both law enforcement and non-law enforcement support staff, spread across 25 domestic field offices and 208 locations nationwide, 30 overseas postings, and multiple temporary duty travel assignments along the border.
