US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials arrested a 25-year-old man in Boston said to be a member of a Haitian street gang who has 17 criminal convictions in Massachusetts, authorities announced Friday.
Members of ICE Boston’s Enforcement and Removal Operations team took Wisteguens Jean Quely Charles, a Haitian national, into custody on Wednesday, according to a statement from the agency.
The arrest was documented by a FOX News team, which was allowed to ride along with ICE authorities during the operation this week.
In a press release Friday, ICE Boston said Charles entered the US legally in 2013, but later “violated the terms of his lawful admission.’’
From August 2022 to August 2024, authorities say Charles was arrested, charged, and convicted for 17 crimes, including possessing and distributing controlled substances, possessing a firearm and ammunition without a permit, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and resisting arrest.
Charles “has consistently broken our laws causing significant harm to the residents of Massachusetts,’’ said ERO Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde in a statement.
ICE Boston issued an immigration detainer for Charles in April 2023 after one of the arrests, but, according to the statement, the Norfolk House of Correction did not fulfill the request and released him in October 2023.
However, Norfolk County Sheriff Patrick W. McDermott’s office disputed that assertion.
“ICE was notified about the impending release of this individual – as is the general practice of the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office,’’ McDermott’s office said in a statement Friday evening. “According to our records ICE indicated they were unable to make a pickup.’’
The statement explained that the sheriff’s office is responsible for an inmate until the person makes bail or completes their sentence.
“ICE is responsible for immigration enforcement,’’ the statement said.
But, if the sheriff’s office “is made aware of an ICE detainer we inform ICE of when that person will be released from our custody,’’ according to the statement.
“It is then incumbent on ICE to be there and fulfill its role.’’
“We cannot violate a person’s due process by holding them beyond their legally stipulated term of confinement. We comply fully, within our authority,’’ the statement said.
Charles remains in ICE custody and has been issued a Notice to Appear before an immigration judge, authorities said.
Kathy McCabe of the Globe Staff contributed to this report.
Niki Griswold can be reached at niki.griswold@globe.com. Follow her @nikigriswold.