ICE deports former Bosnian-Serb police commander tied to Srebrenica genocide

Case is among hundreds identified by ICE’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center

LAS VEGAS – A former Bosnian-Serb police commander wanted in his native country for genocide and atrocities against thousands of Bosnian Muslims was deported Wednesday, capping a successful effort by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to investigate the case and gain his removal from the United States.

Dejan Radojkovic, 61, arrived in Sarajevo Thursday morning via commercial aircraft under escort by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal (ERO) officers. Radojkovic was immediately turned over to Bosnian and Herzegovina law enforcement officials. 

The former Las Vegas resident faces criminal charges in Bosnia and Herzegovina for his role in the Srebrenica genocide. The atrocities took place over several days in July 1995 as Bosnian Serb forces overran a contingent of United Nations peacekeepers, driving tens of thousands of Bosnian-Muslim civilians from the Srebrenica “safe area” and executing more than 7,000 Bosnian-Muslim men and boys. Authorities allege Radojkovic used his position as a commander in the Special Police Brigade to aid in carrying out the crimes. Specifically, prosecutors charge that Radojkovic and his platoon rounded up some 200 Bosnian-Muslim men in the Konjevic Polje region and transferred them to locations where they were executed.

“For the families who lost loved ones at Srebrenica, justice has been a long time coming, but they can take consolation in the fact that those responsible for this tragedy are now being held accountable for their crimes,” said ICE Director John Morton. “I applaud the outstanding work by ICE attorneys, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents, and ERO officers in bringing a successful conclusion to this case. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure our country does not serve as a haven for human rights violators and others who have committed heinous acts.”

Radojkovic, a native of Bosnia and Herzegovina, entered the United States in 1999. After a joint investigation by HSI and Bosnian authorities linked Radojkovic to possible war crimes, he was arrested by HSI special agents at his Las Vegas residence in January 2009. Ten months later, an immigration judge ordered Radojkovic deported on multiple grounds, including a finding that he “ordered…and/or otherwise participated in extrajudicial killing.” Radojkovic’s removal order was upheld upon appeal.

In seeking to establish Radojkovic’s role in the Srebrenica genocide, ICE worked closely with the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (in The Hague) and the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia-Herzegovina in Sarajevo. This week’s removal is the culmination of a long-term effort by multiple domestic and overseas divisions of ICE, including HSI, ERO, the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, the Office of International Affairs and the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center in Washington, D.C. ICE also received assistance with the case from the U.S. Department of State.

Radojkovic is the second former special police commander linked to the massacre to be targeted by ICE for enforcement action. Nedjo Ikonic, formerly of Milwaukee, Wis., was deported Jan. 19, 2010, to face genocide-related charges in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center investigates human rights violators who try to evade justice by seeking shelter in the United States, including those who have participated in war crimes and acts of genocide, torture and extrajudicial killings. These individuals may use fraudulent identities to enter the country and attempt to blend into communities in the United States. Members of the public who have information about foreign nationals suspected of engaging in human rights abuses or war crimes are urged to call the toll-free HSI tip line at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or to complete its online tip form. Both are staffed around the clock by investigators. To learn more about the assistance available to victims in these cases, the public should contact ICE’s confidential victim-witness toll-free number at 1-866-872-4973. Tips may be provided anonymously.

Since fiscal year 2004, ICE has arrested more than 200 individuals for human rights-related violations under various criminal and/or immigration statutes. During that same period, ICE obtained deportation orders and physically removed more than 400 known or suspected human rights violators from the United States. Currently, HSI has more than 180 active investigations and ICE is pursuing more than 1,900 leads and removal cases involving suspected human rights violators from nearly 95 different countries.

Wanted Brazilian national deported from the US

BOSTON — A Brazilian national illegally residing in both Somerville and Medford, Mass., who was wanted in his home country for his involvement in a murder, was turned over to Brazilian law enforcement authorities this morning in São Paulo. He was removed from the United States by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). This individual was originally identified after ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Massachusetts State Police obtained a law enforcement tip that he was residing in the Boston-area.

Jose Rogerio Ferreira de Souza, 20, was arrested by HSI special agents and Massachusetts State Police troopers officers Feb. 22, 2011, in Danvers, Mass. He had remained in ERO custody until his removal today. The delay in his deportation was due to the numerous appeals that Ferreira de Souza had made before the Executive Office for Immigration Review and the Board of Immigration Appeals. His final appeal was dismissed Feb. 17, 2012. He was wanted by the State Civil Police of Minas Gerais for, "armed robbery resulting in death." While residing in Massachusetts, he used the name, "Mauro Jorge" to disguise his true identity.

According to public records, Ferreira de Souza allegedly participated in the September 2008 robbing and killing of a taxi driver in the city of Téofilo Otoni. Ferreira de Souza and his two accomplices, Valdiney Oesdres Leal de Souza and Pereira da Silva, robbed Heraldo de Souza, 68, and stole his watch and $40. They then tied Heraldo de Souza with barbed wire and beat him with a stick until his death. Heraldo de Souza was discovered three days later.

Leal de Souza was sentenced to 23 years in jail and Pereira da Silva was sentenced to 25 years in jail. Both are serving their prisons sentences in Brazil, and have stated publically that Ferreira de Souza participated with them in the murder.

"Thanks to our excellent partnership with the Massachusetts State Police, we have ensured that this individual will be prosecuted for his alleged crimes in Brazil," said Bruce M. Foucart, special agent in charge for HSI Boston. "HSI special agents, ERO officers and our law enforcement partners in Massachusetts will continue to aggressively pursue individuals who pose a threat to public safety, especially criminal aliens who try to blend into our communities to elude justice in their home countries."

Homeland Security Investigations' (HSI) attaché in Brasilia, Brazil, confirmed the biographical details and photographic facial identifiers with Brazilian authorities, which confirmed that Ferreira de Souza was indeed wanted by their government. HSI's attaché coordinated this removal directly with São Paulo's Civil Police Fugitive Capture Unit.

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 335 foreign fugitives from the United States who were being sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder. ERO works with HSI's Office of International Affairs, foreign consular offices in the United States, and Interpol to identify foreign fugitives illegally present in the country.

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.