ICE ERO Boston arrests illegal MS-13 member charged with firearms, drug crimes as disagreements over immigration detainers continue

BOSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston apprehended an illegally present 19-year-old Guatemalan gang member charged with drug and weapons crimes. Officers from ICE ERO Boston arrested Luis Adolfo Guerra-Perez in Boston Jan. 22.

“Luis Adolfo Guerra-Perez is an illegally present gang member, who has shown complete disregard for American laws,” said acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “He is a member of a violent street gang charged with illegally possessing a high-capacity firearm and drugs. We will not tolerate such offenders to threaten the residents of our New England neighborhoods. ERO Boston will continue to arrest and remove egregious alien offenders from our communities.”

U.S. Border Patrol arrested Guerra on March 21, 2021, after he illegally entered the United States at the Southern Border. Authorities with USBP issued Guerra a Notice to Appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge.

ERO Dallas released Guerra on an Order of Recognizance May 8, 2021.

On Oct 2, 2024, a DOJ immigration judge ordered Guerra removed from the United States to Guatemala.

The East Boston District Court arraigned Guerra Jan. 3 for the offenses of possession of a large capacity weapon/firearm, possession of class D controlled substance, possession of firearm without permit and possession of ammunition.

ICE ERO Boston issued an immigration detainer against Guerra with the Nashua Street Jail in Boston Jan. 6; however, according to ICE, the East Boston District Court ignored the immigration detainer and ordered Guerra released from custody Jan. 21.

Officers from ERO Boston arrested Guerra in Boston, Massachusetts Jan 22. He remains in ERO custody.

Much has been made recently concerning immigration detainers. According to Boston 25 News, Massachusetts sheriffs say under state law, they don’t have the power to hold an inmate with a detainer until the feds come to pick them up.

“We have violent offenders here who are illegal. Yet they could get bailed out this afternoon. We have no ability to hold them, beyond their release. We can call ICE, but they may not be able to get here in time. Or they may not be here for hours. We have no authority to hold them,” said Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis.