BOURNE, MA – A man from Venezuela, convicted of murder and living as a fugitive, was recently discovered in a Massachusetts migrant housing facility financed by the state, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The fugitive, 38-year-old Jordano Gotopo-Lopez, had been evading Venezuelan authorities since 2006 due to a breach of his sentencing terms. On Oct. 27, Gotopo-Lopez was apprehended by Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston at the migrant housing facility located on Joint Base Cape Cod in Bourne.
Gotopo-Lopez, who entered the U.S. illegally through Eagle Pass, Texas, on July 31, concealed his past conviction during his arrest. He was processed and instructed to present himself to immigration authorities within 60 days, a command he disregarded.
Upon being located by authorities at the Cape Cod facility, Gotopo-Lopez admitted to his murder conviction and his fugitive status in Venezuela. He was taken into custody without any complications and will be held until his expulsion from the U.S.
ERO Boston Field Office Director, Todd M. Lyons, reiterated his team’s dedication to identifying and detaining unlawfully present fugitives who pose a threat to public safety. He also highlighted the necessity of public knowledge regarding potential risks, especially when an unlawfully present fugitive resides in housing provided by the state.
According to ICE, ERO deported 46,396 noncitizens with criminal records in the fiscal year 2022. The agency recorded 198,498 related charges and convictions, including assault, sex and sexual assault, weapons offenses, homicide-related offenses, and kidnapping.