ICE Arrests Legal U.S. Resident Tied to Haitian Gang Activity and Immigration Fraud

In a sweeping operation underscoring the Trump administration’s renewed crackdown on foreign nationals suspected of international criminal ties, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested Pierre Reginald Boulos—a lawful permanent resident of the United States and Haitian citizen—on charges of immigration fraud and connections to violent gang activity in Haiti.

Boulos was taken into custody on July 17 by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) division. According to officials, the arrest stems from allegations that Boulos has been actively involved in efforts that contributed to the destabilization of Haiti, which U.S. authorities warn could have severe foreign policy implications.

“The Department of State has determined that certain individuals residing legally in the United States have supported and collaborated with known gang leaders in Haiti, including those linked to Viv Ansanm, a designated foreign terrorist organization,” an ICE spokesperson said in a statement.

Boulos’s arrest comes amid increasing scrutiny of individuals suspected of leveraging their U.S. residency status while engaging in or supporting foreign criminal networks. ICE claims that Boulos not only helped incite violence in Haiti but also failed to disclose significant political affiliations that could have impacted his immigration status.

Specifically, authorities accuse Boulos of withholding information about his involvement in founding the Mouvement pour la Transformation et la Valorisation d’Haïti (MTVAyiti), a political organization in Haiti. Additionally, the Haitian government’s anti-corruption unit referred Boulos to U.S. authorities for allegedly misusing government-backed loans.

According to ICE, these omissions constitute material misrepresentations that may amount to immigration fraud. The agency also stressed that such actions violate the Immigration and Nationality Act and are grounds for deportation.

“The United States will not permit individuals to benefit from lawful status while simultaneously aiding and abetting foreign criminal or terrorist organizations,” the agency emphasized. “This arrest is a clear example of our commitment to national security and regional stability.”

Boulos is currently being held at the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) detention facility in Miami while his case is reviewed by immigration officials and the courts.

The investigation into Boulos involved multiple federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

MTVAyiti, the political party founded by Boulos, promotes a nationalist platform rooted in the legacy of Haitian revolutionary Jean-Jacques Dessalines and the economic vision of Henri Christophe, a historic Haitian monarch. The movement claims to prioritize national sovereignty, economic revival, and social justice—values which, according to ICE, Boulos failed to disclose during the immigration process.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated but equally disturbing case, ICE agents also arrested a Mexican national in Chicago earlier this week under gruesome circumstances.

Jose Luis Mendoza-Gonzalez, a 52-year-old undocumented immigrant residing in Waukegan, Illinois, was taken into ICE custody after being released by a local judge despite facing shocking criminal allegations.

Mendoza-Gonzalez is accused of concealing and abusing the body of 37-year-old Megan Bos, who had been missing since February. Her decapitated remains were discovered in April by Waukegan police in a bleach-filled storage container located in Mendoza-Gonzalez’s backyard. According to investigators, the body had been stored there for nearly two months.

He was initially charged with obstruction of justice, abuse of a corpse, and concealment of a death. However, during his preliminary court hearing, Lake County Judge Randie Bruno ordered his release, prompting immediate backlash from law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.

DHS officials acted swiftly following the court’s decision, re-arresting Mendoza-Gonzalez at a Chicago marketplace over the weekend. He is now being held in ICE custody pending further legal action.

“This case highlights the importance of federal and local coordination when dealing with foreign nationals accused of severe crimes,” a DHS official said. “Public safety must remain a top priority.”

Both cases point to a broader effort by ICE and the Trump administration to target individuals who may present security risks to the United States, whether through international political influence, ties to foreign militant groups, or domestic criminal activity. Officials continue to stress that lawful status in the U.S. is not a shield against accountability.

“These arrests make clear that if you abuse your residency, defraud the immigration system, or engage in violent or criminal behavior—here or abroad—you will face the consequences,” ICE concluded.