Gabriela Rivera-Mecott/Mexico/Drug Trafficking

Gabriela Rivera-Mecott, a 35-year-old citizen of Mexico, was arrested by ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Seattle following her release from federal prison. Rivera-Mecott had just completed a 24-month sentence for a conviction related to drug trafficking. ICE officers took her into custody immediately upon her release and she is now being held pending the outcome of her immigration proceedings.

According to records, Rivera-Mecott had been involved in distributing illegal narcotics within the United States and was prosecuted under federal charges. Her conviction highlights the serious nature of her criminal activity and the resulting federal prison time she served. ERO Seattle officers have since confirmed that Rivera-Mecott does not have lawful immigration status in the U.S. and is subject to removal based on both her criminal record and her illegal presence.

Rivera-Mecott’s case represents one of several recent instances in which ICE has arrested criminal aliens directly upon release from incarceration. She will remain in ICE custody while her case is reviewed by immigration authorities. If ordered removed, she will be deported to her native Mexico in accordance with federal law.