New York - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) removed a Jamaican national Thursday who is wanted in his home country on murder charges. Oshane Wayne Thompson, 24, was removed from the United States via an ICE Air Operations Charter flight and transferred into the custody of Jamaican law enforcement authorities.

“We are targeting criminal aliens every day in New York City, many like Thompson who is wanted in his home country to face murder charges,” said Thomas R. Decker, field office director for ERO New York. “It is important to recognize that ICE officers enforce immigration laws and remove criminal aliens from city streets in the interest of public safety, keeping our communities free of those who seek refuge from facing justice for their criminal acts.”

According to Jamaican law enforcement authorities, on June 12, 2017, Thompson got involved in an argument with an adult male, over a woman, pulled a firearm and shot the adult male, who succumbed to his injuries. On June 13, 2017, Thompson boarded a flight to the U.S., and legally entered with a nonimmigrant visa, with authorization to remain in the United States until December 13, 2017. On June 19, 2017, Interpol issued a Red Notice for Thompson, for the crime of murder.

On June 26, 2017, the ERO National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center (NCATC), in Williston, Vermont, advised ERO New York that Thompson may be residing in the New York City metropolitan area. On June 28, 2017, the U.S. Department of State revoked Thompson’s visa. On March 19, 2018, Thompson was arrested by ERO deportation officers from the New York City and Newark Field Offices in Pennsauken, New Jersey, on immigration charges.

On August 2, 2018, Thompson was ordered removed by an immigration judge in New York City, and waived his right to appeal, thus paving the way for his removal to Jamaica.

Since October 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 1,700 foreign fugitives from the United States who were sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder. In fiscal year 2017, ICE conducted 226,119 removals nationwide. Eighty-three percent of individuals removed from the interior of the United States had previously been convicted of a criminal offense.