ICE removes Brazilian fugitive who entered California and faces several charges in Massachusetts

BOSTON — Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston removed an unlawfully present Brazilian fugitive being sought by law enforcement authorities in Brazil for raping a vulnerable person. Deportation officers from ERO Boston removed Altair Jose Portuense-Lana, 51, via a flight to Brazil March 22.

“The community is safer today with the removal of Altair Jose Portuense-Lana,” said ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd M. Lyons. “He was being sought for sex offenses in Brazil and represented a threat to New England residents as long as he was walking our streets. ERO Boston will not accept the presence of unlawfully present sex offenders in our neighborhoods, and we will continue to apprehend, arrest and remove such threats from our region.”

Portuense-Lana unlawfully entered the United States on July 22, 2021, in Otay Mesa, California. He was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol and placed into removal proceedings. He was subsequently placed in an Alternatives to Detention program and scheduled for a hearing before a Department of Justice immigration judge.

A criminal and civil court in the city of Inhapim, a municipality in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, has sought to take custody of Portuense-Lana since July 27, 2023, for the offense of rape of a vulnerable individual, or statutory rape of a minor 14 years of age or younger. Portuense-Lana’s case remains pending and carries a sentence of 20 years in prison in Brazil upon conviction.

In June 2022, Portuense-Lana was arrested and subsequently arraigned in Framingham, Massachusetts, on the charges of assault and battery on a family or household member and of intimidation of witnesses, jurors and persons furnishing information in connection with criminal proceedings, a felony crime.

In July 2022, Portuense-Lana was also charged with multiple charges of threats to commit a crime and with violation of a restraining/abuse prevention order. These charges remain pending locally.

On March 4, 2024, a DOJ immigration judge issued a final order of removal for Portuense-Lana in absentia.

After becoming aware of his presence in New England, deportation officers with ERO Boston located and arrested Portuense-Lana without incident. He was held in ICE custody until his removal in flight to Brazil, which took place March 22.