U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged an immigration detainer against a Honduran national accused of causing the death of his three-year-old nephew in Florida, federal officials said Tuesday.
According to ICE, Samuel Antonio Maldonado-Erazo, 28, is currently facing state charges including aggravated manslaughter following the death of the child earlier this month. Authorities said the child, a U.S. citizen, died after being transported to a hospital in Escambia County.
Local officials reported the child suffered severe injuries consistent with sustained abuse. Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons said the injuries included multiple strikes to the head, extensive bruising, burns, a broken collarbone, a transected pancreas caused by blunt trauma and several broken ribs.
Emergency responders were called after the child was reported to be in cardiac arrest. The child later died at a hospital.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said the agency lodged an immigration detainer against Maldonado-Erazo on March 5 following his arrest. An immigration detainer requests that local law enforcement notify ICE before releasing an individual from custody so federal authorities can assume custody for immigration enforcement purposes.
According to ICE, Maldonado-Erazo first entered the United States illegally in August 2021 and was removed shortly afterward. Federal officials said he later reentered the United States illegally in November 2021, which is a felony under federal law.
Immigration authorities said Maldonado-Erazo was later issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge in May 2023.
Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis of the Department of Homeland Security said the case highlights coordination between local and federal authorities when individuals accused of serious crimes are identified in the United States.
“This crime is absolutely sickening and underscores the importance of local authorities working with ICE to remove dangerous criminal illegal aliens from American communities,” Bis said in a statement.
ICE said the detainer ensures federal immigration authorities will be notified before Maldonado-Erazo is released from local custody. The case remains under investigation and the charges against Maldonado-Erazo have not yet been adjudicated in court.
