A Dominican national wanted in his home country for human smuggling leading to the death of three minors was removed from the United States on Tuesday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Edgar Batista Matos, 36, was deported from Miami International Airport to Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where he was turned over to law enforcement authorities.
This removal marks the fourth time Batista Matos has been deported from the U.S. He was previously removed in 2010, 2011, 2019, and 2023 after illegally entering the country.
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Batista Matos was arrested in Puerto Rico in September 2024 based on a warrant issued by Dominican authorities for his alleged involvement in a fatal human smuggling operation. He was transferred to ICE custody in February 2025.
“The return of this fugitive to the Dominican Republic is a prime example of how ICE works closely with our international law enforcement partners to identify, locate and remove criminal aliens who are wanted in their country for allegedly committing crimes,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Miami acting Field Office Director Juan Lopez Vega.
ICE coordinated Batista Matos’ removal with the Dominican National Police.
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