U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced Friday that a Brazilian national who fled to the U.S. under a tourist visa to avoid serving a prison sentence for child rape was deported back to Brazil in late January.
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston had previously arrested the Brazilian fugitive, 62-year-old Edimir Gustavo Eckelberg, in Tewksbury, Mass. on Nov. 28, 2023.
Eckelberg had fled from Brazil to New York under a tourist immigration visa in April 2023, following his conviction for the rape of a vulnerable child by a criminal court in Brazil, ICE said.
According to ICE, Brazilian authorities issued a warrant for his arrest in May 2023 when he failed to appear to serve a 12-year sentence for his child rape conviction.
The Brazilian fugitive was held in ERO Boston custody until he was removed by air to Brazil on Jan. 26, 2024.
“There is no more repulsive and disturbing crime than the sexual assault of a child,” said ERO Boston Field Office Director Todd Lyons.
“Our New England communities are safer without the presence of Edimir Gustavo Eckelberg, who is now in the hands of Brazilian authorities,” Lyons said. “ERO Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by apprehending and removing such violent threats from our New England communities.”
In fiscal year 2023, ICE arrested a total of 73,822 non-citizens with criminal histories, including 4,390 who had charges or convictions related to sexual assault.
