U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Boston have arrested a Dominican national with a history of weapons and drug convictions who had previously been deported from the United States.
Antonio Gonzales, 53, was taken into custody on May 7 during a targeted enforcement operation by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston. A federal grand jury later indicted him on charges of unlawful reentry after deportation.
According to ICE officials, Gonzales had been removed from the United States and moved to the Dominican Republic on September 15, 2004. Despite that removal order, he allegedly reentered the country unlawfully at an unknown time after his deportation.
Court records detail Gonzales’ criminal history in the United States before his removal. He was convicted in March 1994 for criminal possession of a weapon and again in November 2000 for criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Federal prosecutors have charged Gonzales with one count of illegal reentry after deportation, a felony offense under U.S. immigration law. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and three years of supervised release. He would also be subject to removal from the United States following any prison term imposed.
ICE ERO Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde said Gonzales’ arrest reflects the agency’s ongoing focus on public safety, particularly targeting noncitizens with serious criminal records who reenter the country after being deported.
“Antonio Gonzales has not only been previously removed from the U.S., he also has convictions for weapons and drug crimes,” Hyde said in an ICE statement. “He presented a threat to the residents of our New England communities that we refuse to tolerate. ICE Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing criminal alien threats from our neighborhoods.”
ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations officers conduct targeted arrests of noncitizens with prior convictions, immigration violations, or deportation orders. Officials say such operations are part of the agency’s mission to enforce federal immigration laws while focusing resources on individuals deemed threats to public safety.
Gonzales’ case will proceed in federal court in Massachusetts, where he will face the illegal reentry charge.
