BOURNE, MA – A Venezuelan man, previously convicted of murder and living as a fugitive, was found residing in a state-funded migrant housing facility in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, as per a report by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The man, identified as 38-year-old Jordano Gotopo-Lopez, had been on the run since 2006 due to a violation of his sentencing conditions in Venezuela. He was arrested by Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston on Oct. 27 at the migrant housing facility on Joint Base Cape Cod in Bourne.
Upon his illegal entry into the U.S. via Eagle Pass, Texas, on July 31, Gotopo-Lopez did not reveal his previous conviction. He was processed and given a notice to report himself to immigration authorities within 60 days, a directive he failed to follow.
When discovered by authorities at the Cape Cod shelter, Gotopo-Lopez confessed to his murder conviction and fugitive status in Venezuela. He was arrested without incident and will remain in custody until his removal from the U.S.
Todd M. Lyons, ERO Boston Field Office Director, emphasized the team’s commitment to identifying and apprehending unlawfully present fugitives posing a threat to public safety. He also stressed the importance of public awareness about potential risks, particularly when an unlawfully present fugitive is living in state-provided housing.
In the fiscal year 2022, ERO removed 46,396 noncitizens with criminal histories, according to ICE. The agency reported 198,498 associated charges and convictions, including assault, sex and sexual assault, weapons offenses, homicide-related offenses, and kidnapping.