ICE Detains Peruvian Immigrant with Conflicting Deportation Claims
This week, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that it had conducted a targeted operation in New Jersey to detain a Peruvian immigrant who had been issued a final deportation order. However, the individual in question, identified as Friedrich Castillo-Ormeno, had already departed the United States voluntarily three months prior and had received compensation for his departure.
Details of the Incident
ICE issued a statement on Monday identifying Castillo-Ormeno, stating that he was involved in an incident in Manahawkin, New Jersey, where an officer attempted to perform a vehicle stop for an arrest. During this encounter, the driver allegedly used his vehicle as a weapon, resulting in the officer discharging his firearm.
Officer Injury and Response
The ICE officer sustained a leg injury and was subsequently treated at a local hospital. Castillo-Ormeno, who had returned to Peru shortly before the incident, reported receiving calls from relatives alerting him that his name had surfaced in connection with the ICE case.
Concerns Over Criminalization
“This is a serious problem that could affect me now or in the future, as they are effectively treating me like a criminal,” Castillo-Ormeno stated. “I didn’t know what to do.” He had originally arrived in the U.S. in the summer of 2022 and worked closely with ICE while his asylum application progressed through immigration court.
Voluntary Departure and Incentives
After receiving a final deportation order on January 30, Castillo-Ormeno began making arrangements for his return to Peru. He secured plane tickets for himself, his girlfriend, and their child, departing the U.S. on March 2 and arriving in Peru the following day. He also applied for the CBP Home program, which offers financial incentives to individuals who voluntarily leave the country.
Confusion Over ICE Statements
Despite Castillo-Ormeno’s voluntary departure, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has upheld ICE’s earlier statements regarding the incident involving the immigration officer. In their defense, DHS emphasized that they had not claimed Castillo-Ormeno was the driver who used the vehicle as a weapon. They further clarified that ICE agents were engaged in a targeted operation when they observed an individual resembling the person they were pursuing entering a van.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
On the same day ICE reaffirmed its statements, federal prosecutors in New Jersey charged another man, Eduardo Cruz Garcia, with assaulting an ICE officer with a vehicle. This 39-year-old Mexican national, who is currently in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, has been identified as a suspect in the attack. According to the federal complaint, Cruz-Garcia fled from the officers after they attempted to conduct a traffic stop, ultimately striking one of them with his vehicle.
Concerns About Future Immigration Status
DHS has expressed that they are “pleased” Castillo-Ormeno returned voluntarily, encouraging others in similar situations to follow suit to secure opportunities for future re-entry into the U.S. However, Castillo-Ormeno fears that this incident may jeopardize his chances of returning or affect his efforts to obtain documentation for his daughter, born in the U.S. “I think it’s unfair for my reputation to be tarnished in this way,” he remarked, voicing concerns over the repercussions on his future plans.
