A 53-year-old Jamaican man who has a raft of criminal convictions, including for murder, in the United States, was among eight non-citizen offenders who were recently arrested throughout Maryland by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Baltimore Unit.
The man, Norman Craig Douglas, entered the US on October 8, 1991 through the Baltimore/Washington International Airport.
A statement from ICE on Thursday said between 1996 and 2005, Douglas was charged or convicted seven times for a variety of drug and misdemeanour offences.
The Rocky Mountain Police Department in North Carolina arrested him on July 7, 2007 for first-degree murder.
He was convicted on July 31, 2007 by the Nashville County Supreme Court, and was sentenced to over 11 years in prison.
Since Douglas’ release, he has been arrested twice on drug offences, ICE said.
The Jamaican was arrested by deportation officers with ERO Baltimore, along with the seven other non-citizen offenders, on December 17, 2024. They are to all remain in custody pending removal proceedings.
“These arrests highlight the unwavering commitment ERO has to protecting the residents of Maryland,” said ERO Baltimore Acting Field Office Director, Matthew Elliston.
“By targeting and removing those who have committed egregious crimes like murder, sexual assault and even impersonating a police officer, we are making enormous strides in making sure our Maryland communities remain safe for our residents," Elliston was quoted as saying in the release.
He cited that the operations reflect the ERO's dedication to prioritising public safety and holding those who violate immigration law accountable.
ERO is one of ICE’s three operational directorates, and is the principal federal law enforcement authority in charge of domestic immigration enforcement.
