Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) apprehended an individual wanted for aggravated murder in Brazil just two days before Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed a law restricting certain ICE operations within the state. Maycon Souto Dos Reis, 54, was convicted of aggravated murder in Brazil on September 14, 2024, and received a 14-year prison sentence, according to ICE.
Dos Reis entered the U.S. illegally through the U.S.-Mexico border in June 2024. He was apprehended but subsequently released into the U.S. under policies enacted by the Biden administration, ICE stated.
"This is yet another example of what the media often characterizes as a non-criminal, when in reality, many of these individuals are murderers, sexual predators, gang members and more: They simply do not have a criminal record in the United States," stated Acting ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston Field Office Director David Wesling. "We will continue to pursue these dangerous criminal aliens that sanctuary politicians fight to protect."
ICE officers arrested Dos Reis on August 3 at Westborough District Court in Westborough. This arrest occurred just two days before Governor Healey signed the PROTECT Act into law on August 5. The new law prohibits ICE from operating in courthouses, schools, childcare centers, hospitals, and healthcare facilities. It also offers enhanced protections for parents facing detention or deportation and bans new 287(g) agreements, which allow federal authorities to delegate immigration enforcement powers to state and local law enforcement.
Governor Healey stated that the PROTECT Act is the most robust law in the nation for protecting residents from ICE, asserting that "no one should be afraid to send their child to school, seek medical care or fear reporting a crime or appearing in court." She added, "It makes us all less safe. So we are getting ICE out of our courthouses, schools and hospitals."
Dos Reis first came to the attention of ERO Boston following his arrest on May 29 for unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in Southborough, Massachusetts. ICE officials noted that Dos Reis had been residing in Massachusetts, a state that has been a focal point for disputes between state and federal officials regarding immigration enforcement. The agency characterized the state's local policies as potentially complicating federal efforts to locate and arrest individuals in violation of immigration laws.
ICE has not released further details regarding the aggravated murder case in Brazil, including the date of the offense or the specifics of Dos Reis' conviction. He remains in ICE custody pending the outcome of deportation proceedings.