ICE Buffalo has announced the removal of two Guatemalan fugitives from the United States, handing them over to authorities in Guatemala. This action was confirmed through a news release.
According to the ICE Buffalo press release, Cesar Germain Lopez-Chacon had multiple arrests in New Jersey, including charges of domestic assault and theft. ICE Newark determined that he was wanted in Guatemala for assaulting a government official. He was arrested during a targeted enforcement operation and detained at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility throughout his removal proceedings. An immigration judge ordered Lopez-Chacon’s removal on April 23, with his transfer to Guatemalan authorities occurring on May 12.
The same release outlines Francisco Manuel Lopez’s extensive criminal and immigration history. He was first removed from the U.S. in 2014 following an illegal entry conviction. After reentering illegally, he was arrested again and later convicted in New York for criminal possession of a weapon and assault with a weapon in 2024. ICE determined on April 23, 2025, that Lopez was wanted in Guatemala for gender-based violence, leading to his removal on May 12.
ICE states that both removals were part of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Buffalo’s mission to address public-safety threats posed by fugitives wanted for violent crimes abroad. The agency emphasizes that both individuals entered the U.S. unlawfully at unknown locations and evaded immigration detection for extended periods, resulting in multiple encounters with law enforcement before their ultimate removal. ICE encourages public reporting of criminal activity via its online tip form, highlighting community involvement’s importance in identifying fugitives with international warrants.
According to ICE’s official website, ERO Buffalo is tasked with locating, arresting, and removing noncitizens who pose threats to public safety or are wanted for crimes in their home countries. The office conducts targeted enforcement operations, manages detention processes, and coordinates removals in partnership with domestic and international law-enforcement agencies. Additionally, ERO Buffalo engages with the public through its reporting tools and provides regular updates on X through its official account @EROBuffalo.
