Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr released the following statement regarding the recent arrest and deportation of Joao Brito by the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Brito was wanted by Dutch authorities in connection with allegations of child sexual abuse and human smuggling:"The arrest and subsequent deportation of Joao Brito testifies to the value of the Secure Communities Program in protecting the public safety of our Commonwealth. While Brito was arrested by the Boston Police for automotive vandalism, the fact that he was being sought by Dutch authorities for the even more serious crimes of child sexual abuse and human smuggling was revealed by the critical sharing of information that occurs between local police and federal immigration officials through this program. The serious nature of these charges leaves no doubt as to the importance and usefulness of the program and its potential to safeguard public safety.
These events emphasize what should already be obvious-that we should not prevent those charged with ensuring our safety from sharing information that can play a major role in protecting all of us."
The following press release was released by ICE yesterday:
ICE DEPORTS MAN WANTED FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE, HUMAN SMUGGLING
Man from the Netherlands, identified through ICE's Secure Communities program
BOSTON - A man wanted by Dutch authorities for sexual abuse of children and human smuggling has been removed from the United States following his arrest in Boston, where the Secure Communities program, administered by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), led to the pending case in the Netherlands.
Joao Brito, 30, of the Netherlands, was accompanied by ICE ERO officers on a flight from Logan International Airport in Boston to Schiphol International Airport in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Brito was turned over to Dutch authorities upon his arrival early Thursday.
Brito was arrested in May by Boston Police and charged in connection with the vandalism of a vehicle. ICE's Secure Communities program in Suffolk County, Mass., enabled investigators to immediately share fingerprint information that quickly produced a match indicating Brito's illegal presence in the United States. He remained in custody on an ICE detainer while the investigation continued.
ICE ERO officers were alerted that Brito was currently under investigation by the Dutch National Police for child exploitation. Within 24-hours after contacting the Assistant Attaché for Removals in the Netherlands, ICE confirmed that Brito was wanted by Dutch law enforcement authorities for sexual abuse of children and human smuggling.
ICE ERO officers determined that Brito entered the United States in June 2008, arriving at Logan International Airport as a non-immigrant temporary visitor under the Visa Waiver Program. Brito was authorized to remain in the United States until September 2008 however, he remained without authorization.
ICE ERO prioritizes the apprehension, arrest and removal of convicted criminals, those who pose a threat to national security, fugitives and recent border entrants. Between October 2008 and the end of fiscal year 2010, the number of convicted criminals that ICE removed from the U.S. increased 71%. In fiscal year 2011 from Oct. 1, 2010 to April 30, ICE has removed a total of 109,700 aliens convicted of crimes from the United States.
