Federal immigration authorities arrested a previously convicted Honduran national along with seven Ecuadorian nationals during an August 5 enforcement operation in northeastern North Dakota.
According to U.S. Border Patrol officials, the raid—conducted by Grand Forks Sector agents with support from Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations—targeted a known “criminal illegal alien” who had previously been convicted of driving while intoxicated in 2020. He was successfully located and taken into custody, along with seven others found at the same location.
The primary suspect, a Honduran citizen whose name has not been released publicly, had illegally reentered the United States, after his prior criminal conviction. Officials confirmed he is now in custody and facing new immigration proceedings.
The seven other individuals, all Ecuadorian nationals, were likewise determined to be unlawfully present in the United States. All eight individuals will be referred for detention and removal by ICE.
U.S. Border Patrol emphasized the success of the joint operation, issuing a public statement reaffirming their commitment to immigration enforcement: “No matter how far you run or hard you hide, the United States Border Patrol will find you.”
The Grand Forks Sector, responsible for patrolling the northern border in eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota, has reported an uptick in illegal border crossings and smuggling activity in recent months. Officials have warned that even rural areas far from the southern border are now being used as transit points or hideouts for individuals seeking to evade federal detection.
Federal authorities did not release further details on the nature of the investigation that led to the arrests, but confirmed that all eight suspects are being held pending further immigration processing.
The arrest comes amid a growing number of operations targeting criminal aliens with prior convictions, particularly those with records involving alcohol-related offenses, assault, or reentry after deportation.
ICE and Border Patrol continue to urge local jurisdictions to cooperate with federal efforts to remove criminal non-citizens, citing cases like this one as evidence of the ongoing risks posed by unlawful reentry and sanctuary policies.
