U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in Maryland announced on Wednesday the arrest of Hisseine Gombo-Tchouli, a 25-year-old national of Chad with a history of serious criminal convictions.

Gombo-Tchouli, who entered the U.S. legally in 2005 through Dulles International Airport, Virginia, reportedly violated the terms of his admission. His criminal record includes multiple arrests:

• 2019: Arrested on firearm charges and drug possession with intent to distribute
• 2020: Arrested on two accessory to murder charges
• 2023: Convicted of accessory to murder in the first degree, sentenced to 10 years in prison with all but 18 months suspended

Despite an immigration detainer lodged against Gombo-Tchouli in October, Howard County officials reportedly declined to honor it, releasing him the following month. On July 3, an Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Baltimore Fugitive Operations Team arrested Gombo-Tchouli and served him a notice to appear before an immigration judge. He is currently in ICE custody.

Matthew Elliston, ERO Baltimore acting Field Office Director, emphasized the agency’s commitment to public safety, stating, “We will not tolerate such grievous felons to endanger our law-abiding residents. ERO Baltimore will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing the most egregious noncitizen offenders from our communities.”

This arrest follows a recent case involving a Salvadoran migrant convicted of a sex crime against a minor in Virginia, who is also now in ICE custody.

The case highlights ongoing debates about cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, as well as ICE’s focus on individuals with serious criminal convictions.