ICE removes child predator to Peru

WASHINGTON — A citizen and national of Peru who served prison time in Virginia for possessing child pornography was removed from the United States by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers.

Javier Ojeda-Leon, 27, of Ashburn, Va., was removed Thursday, Mar. 22, from Dulles International Airport via commercial carrier.

Ojeda-Leon was convicted Aug. 12, 2011, in the circuit court of Loudon County, Va., on two counts of possession of child pornography and sentenced to five years in prison on each count. The court suspended all but six months on each sentence.

“Removing convicted criminal aliens is a top priority for ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations," said ICE ERO Washington Field Office Director Enrique M. Lucero. “Every officer works diligently to ensure that removing convicted criminal aliens, especially those that commit such heinous crimes against children, is one of our top priorities."

ICE ERO encountered Ojeda-Leon on April 1, 2011, following his arrest for possession of child pornography. ICE ERO officers determined that he was removable following the completion of his criminal case and placed an ICE detainer on him.

Following the completion of his prison sentence at the Loudon County Jail, he was taken into ICE custody on Feb. 28 and ordered removed that same day.

Interpol issued a green notice Feb. 28, notifying law enforcement agencies throughout the world that Ojeda-Leon may be considered dangerous, liable to commit sexual offenses involving minors and liable to use pictures of minors for pornographic purposes for his own gain.

Ojeda-Leon had last entered the United States on Jan. 22, 2009, at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York as a B1/B2 visitor.

Ojeda-Leon's removal was coordinated with ICE Attachés in Peru and El Salvador.

ICE on occasion uses commercial carriers to transport aliens who have final orders of removal from an immigration judge. ICE ERO officers escort aliens on these flights to their country of origin.

In fiscal year 2011, ICE's Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations removed a record-setting 216,698 convicted criminals. This represents an increase of almost 100 percent over the 114,415 removed just three years ago in fiscal year 2008. Thus far this year, 52 percent of those removed are convicted criminals. The removal of criminal aliens is and will remain ICE's highest priority.