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ICE arrests of Brazilian nationals in Massachusetts

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2026-08-21 04:18 UTC → 2026-09-01 19:33 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has conducted high-profile arrests of Brazilian nationals in Massachusetts facing serious criminal charges. In mid-August, ICE arrested Maycon Souto Dos Reis, a 54-year-old wanted for aggravated murder, in Westborough. Officials noted that Dos Reis had illegally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in 2024 and was released under previous administration policies. This arrest occurred shortly before the signing of the Protect Act, a Massachusetts law intended to restrict certain ICE operations. Shortly thereafter, ICE officers arrested Heriton Da Silva Aredes in Taunton for vehicular homicide. ICE leadership reported that Aredes had been released from state and local custody on three separate occasions despite active detainers, which officials attributed to sanctuary policies. Aredes, who had been previously removed from the U.S. in 2008, also holds convictions for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and reckless driving. In September, federal authorities arrested Flavio Alcantara Dias, a 43-year-old Brazilian national, in connection with the fatal strangulation of a woman in her Massachusetts home. ICE identified Dias as an illegal immigrant who entered the U.S. in April 2019. The Department of Homeland Security stated that an immigration judge had terminated Dias’s immigration hearings in October 2024 due to a technicality, resulting in his release despite a criminal history that included arrests for DUI and aggravated assault.

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