Ricardo Lopez-Jiatz/Guatemala/Shoplifting, Driving Under the Influence

Ricardo Lopez-Jiatz, a Guatemala national living in the country illegally, was taken into custody by ICE agents in Wilber, Nebraska, on charges of shoplifting, driving under the influence.

Impaired driving arrests involving illegal aliens have become a common intersection between local law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement. Many Wisconsin jurisdictions coordinate with ICE on such arrests, resulting in immigration detainers being placed before trial. Lopez-Jiatz’s DUI charge now runs in parallel with a federal immigration removal proceeding moving forward independently.

Following the arrest, Lopez-Jiatz was transferred to federal immigration detention. Removal proceedings before a Department of Justice immigration judge are pending, with Guatemala as the country of removal.