ICE Buffalo deports fugitives wanted in Guatemala for serious crimes

Key Takeaways

• ICE Buffalo removed two Guatemalan nationals to Guatemala on May 12, 2025, due to felony charges.
• Cesar Germain Lopez-Chacon faced multiple U.S. arrests and is wanted in Guatemala for assault and gender-based violence.
• Both men underwent full U.S. legal proceedings and were handed to Guatemalan authorities upon arrival.

On May 12, 2025, ICE Buffalo removed two Guatemalan nationals from the United States 🇺🇸, sending them back to Guatemala 🇬🇹 where both are wanted for felony crimes. The operation targeted individuals involved in serious legal offenses in both the United States 🇺🇸 and their home country. By handing these fugitives over to Guatemalan authorities, ICE Buffalo continues its mission to protect public safety and enforce immigration laws.

The Operation: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How

On May 12, 2025, officials from ICE Buffalo—a division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement—carried out the removal of two men from Guatemala 🇬🇹 who were in the United States 🇺🇸 without legal status. Both men were fugitives wanted by Guatemalan authorities for felonies. The removals followed all U.S. legal procedures. Upon arrival in Guatemala 🇬🇹, both men were handed over to local law enforcement.

Why was this done? As explained in ICE Buffalo’s official report, the main goal was public safety. Removing individuals with serious criminal backgrounds and pending legal cases helps lower the risk for communities in the United States 🇺🇸 and supports the idea that the country is not a safe place for foreign fugitives.

How did this happen? Each man went through removal proceedings under U.S. immigration law. ICE Buffalo followed court orders and worked with international partners to send both fugitives back to face their legal responsibilities.

Main Individual Named: Cesar Germain Lopez-Chacon

Of the two men returned, only one has been identified publicly: Cesar Germain Lopez-Chacon, a 28-year-old Guatemalan national. His journey through both the criminal and immigration systems highlights why ICE Buffalo pays close attention to fugitives with serious charges.

Timeline of Actions

• Unknown Entry: Lopez-Chacon entered the United States 🇺🇸 at an unknown place and date, without being admitted by an immigration official. This means he crossed the border in an unauthorized way.
• First Arrest (January 13, 2023): Police in Asbury Park (New Jersey) arrested him for domestic assault, having a controlled substance, and possession or intent to use drug paraphernalia.
• Outstanding Warrant Discovery: About a week after this first arrest, ICE Newark learned there was an outstanding warrant in Guatemala 🇬🇹 for assaulting a government official.
• Second Arrest (July 19, 2024): Lopez-Chacon was arrested again by Neptune Township police for theft. However, he was released before ICE could file a detainer. A detainer is a request by ICE to hold an individual so that immigration officials can take custody.
• ICE Arrest (March 7): After tracking his activities, ICE Newark arrested Lopez-Chacon during a focused operation for violating immigration law.
• Transfer to ICE Buffalo: After his arrest, he was transferred to ICE Buffalo, where he was held during the legal process.
• Order of Removal (April 23): An immigration judge ordered that Lopez-Chacon be removed from the country. It was also confirmed at this time that he is wanted in Guatemala 🇬🇹 for crimes involving gender-based violence.

VisaVerge.com’s investigation reveals that each of these steps shows careful cooperation between local police, federal officials, and international partners.

The Other Fugitives

While the identity and details of the second Guatemalan man were not provided in the available ICE press releases, it is clear that both individuals were wanted for felony charges in their home country. Both removals happened on the same day and both men were turned over to legal authorities in Guatemala 🇬🇹 right after leaving the United States 🇺🇸.

Legal Process: How Removal Proceedings Work

ICE Buffalo followed all legal steps required before removing these men. Here’s a look at the process used:

1. Arrest: Local police or ICE arrest the person for violating U.S. law or immigration rules.
2. Investigation: ICE checks background records. If homeland authorities (like those in Guatemala 🇬🇹) have active warrants for the person’s arrest, that information is verified.
3. Detention: The person may be held by ICE, especially if they have a criminal record or pose a risk to others.
4. Immigration Court: A judge looks at the evidence and decides if the person can stay in the United States 🇺🇸 or must be removed.
5. Order of Removal: If ordered removed, arrangements are made to return them to their country of origin.
6. Transfer to Home Country: ICE coordinates with local authorities in the home country. Police or legal officials receive the individual at the airport.

Every step is closely monitored. The system tries to balance public safety in the United States 🇺🇸 with the need to respect international law and human rights. These removals took place only after the judges gave the required orders.

If you want more details about how ICE Buffalo and its parent agency operate, you can visit ICE’s official news releases for updates on enforcement actions.

Policy Context and Background

Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), including ICE Buffalo, focus on removing people who pose threats due to their criminal records or who are wanted by law enforcement in other countries. These actions are especially important for those with felony records, as felonies are often serious crimes such as assault, theft, drug trafficking, or violence.

• Public Safety: By removing foreign nationals who have broken laws or are wanted elsewhere for crimes, ICE Buffalo aims to make communities safer. This is not just about enforcing immigration law—it’s also about lowering the chances that dangerous individuals continue criminal activity within the United States 🇺🇸.
• International Cooperation: Such operations depend on good working relationships between countries. When Guatemalan officials ask for their fugitives to be returned, U.S. authorities must act according to both countries’ legal rules.

This operation is not unique. ICE Buffalo has participated in many such removals over the years, focusing on individuals who have not only broken U.S. law but who also have records in their home countries. The fact that Lopez-Chacon was wanted for both assaulting a government official and gender-based violence in Guatemala 🇬🇹 makes this case especially serious.

Why Target These Individuals?

Not all non-citizens who live in the United States 🇺🇸 without permission will be removed. ICE Buffalo prioritizes cases where a person has a history of serious crimes or is considered a threat to public order.

In Lopez-Chacon’s case, the record included:

• Domestic assault
• Drug possession
• Theft
• Assault on a government official (Guatemala 🇬🇹)
• Gender-based violence (Guatemala 🇬🇹)

Each of these charges carries heavy penalties in most countries, and people convicted may face jail time or other legal consequences.

Cooperation Between Agencies

The Lopez-Chacon case shows how different police departments and immigration officials must work together to complete these actions. Local police record arrests and charges. ICE checks international databases to find out if the person is wanted elsewhere. If the person is released from local jail before ICE can request a detainer, tracking and re-arresting them becomes more difficult.

ICE Buffalo and ICE Newark coordinated closely in this case. ICE Newark learned about the Guatemalan warrant soon after the first arrest. When Neptune Township Police released Lopez-Chacon after his second arrest, ICE had to locate him again, which took until March 2025. This shows the challenges in making sure dangerous fugitives don’t slip through the cracks.

Reporting Immigration Crimes

Officials encourage the public to report crimes or suspicious activities that may involve immigration violations. ICE provides an easy way to share tips online. You can share what you know by visiting ICE’s tip form. Information from the public can help prevent crimes and boost public safety.

Broader Impact: What Does This Mean for Immigrants, Employers, and Communities?

For Immigrants

If you are living in the United States 🇺🇸 and have open felony warrants or a serious criminal record, you can face removal—even if you have lived in the country for years. All non-citizens, including those without lawful status, should know that criminal charges can lead to deportation. In some cases, even minor charges, if repeated or if the person is wanted back home for something worse, can result in removal.

For Employers

Employers should be aware of the risks of hiring individuals who may have criminal backgrounds or who are present in the country without permission. Following legal hiring practices, checking documents, and cooperating with authorities when asked can help avoid problems.

For Communities

These types of operations from ICE Buffalo are designed to make communities safer. Some people support these actions because they feel they lower crime and send a message that serious offenders can’t escape legal consequences by moving to another country. Others worry that enforcement actions may lead to more fear and mistrust in immigrant neighborhoods.

Different Views

Some groups have concerns about ICE removal operations. They say that sometimes individuals who pose no threat are also caught up in these sweeps, leading to families being separated or community members being afraid to report crimes. Supporters argue the focus on criminals is needed for public safety.

The official ICE stance is that public safety is the major priority, and only those with serious records or outstanding international warrants are targeted for removal. As with all government actions, oversight and accountability are important to balance effective law enforcement with fairness.

Trends and Future Outlook

Operations like the one involving ICE Buffalo, Guatemala 🇬🇹, and Cesar Germain Lopez-Chacon are likely to continue. With international communication improving, it’s easier for ICE and other agencies to check the backgrounds of people in the United States 🇺🇸 and find out if they are wanted anywhere else.

Stronger data sharing and cooperation mean more cases can be identified and acted upon quickly. However, there will probably always be debates about how widely such actions should reach, and how ICE can best identify true threats without harming people who are simply trying to build better lives.

What Happens Now?

After removal, authorities in Guatemala 🇬🇹 will decide how to proceed with the legal cases against Lopez-Chacon and the other unnamed fugitive. In cases of serious crimes like assault on a government official or gender-based violence, people can face long jail terms if convicted.

Back in the United States 🇺🇸, ICE Buffalo will continue to focus on cases that involve serious crimes and fugitives. Future reports will likely provide more information about outcomes, but privacy laws mean that not all names or details are always shared with the public.

Summary Table – Key Facts

NOTE: Details about the second individual remain undisclosed in public records.

Key Takeaways

• ICE Buffalo removed two criminal fugitives to Guatemala 🇬🇹 on May 12, 2025.
• Cesar Germain Lopez-Chacon is one of the men. He faced multiple arrests in the United States 🇺🇸 and is wanted for serious crimes in his home country.
• Both men went through all required legal steps before removal, with judges deciding on their cases.
• The main goals are to keep communities safe and to uphold international agreements between the United States 🇺🇸 and other countries.
• Members of the public can help by reporting information on immigration crimes through ICE’s official tip form.

By staying informed, following the law, and cooperating with authorities, everyone—immigrants, employers, and community members—can play a part in building safer, stronger communities.

Learn Today

Removal Proceedings → Legal process where an immigration judge determines if a noncitizen must leave the United States for violating laws.
Detainer → An ICE document requesting local law enforcement hold an individual for immigration custody transfer.
Felony → A serious crime, such as assault or drug trafficking, punishable by long prison sentences.
Order of Removal → A judge’s official decision requiring someone to be deported from the United States.
Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) → A division of ICE responsible for locating, detaining, and removing individuals who violate immigration law.

This Article in a Nutshell

On May 12, 2025, ICE Buffalo removed two Guatemalan nationals, including Cesar Germain Lopez-Chacon, for serious crimes. This operation reflects strong international cooperation and a focus on public safety. Both fugitives faced legal due process, illustrating how enforcement prioritizes removing foreign nationals with serious criminal backgrounds.
— By VisaVerge.com

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• Guatemalan Nationals Face ICE Hold After DUI Arrests
• Guatemalan Woman Beats Deportation After Giving Birth
• Trump’s First 30 Days: Deportations Rise, Guatemalan Families Struggle
• Guatemalan National Convicted of Domestic Violence Arrested by ICE in Boston
• Guatemala to Expand Deportation Flights from US for Foreign Migrants