ICE Arrests Man After Illinois Ignored Immigration Detainer
If you or someone you know has a criminal record and an open immigration case, lawyers recommend speaking with an immigration attorney immediately — before any release from custody. An attorney can check whether a detainer exists and help you prepare for a possible immigration bond hearing or removal proceedings.
What Happened
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) arrested Erik Giovanni-Quiroa, 41, a Guatemalan national, on April 22, 2026, in Chicago. The arrest came after the Illinois Department of Corrections released him from prison without notifying ICE — even though ICE had filed an immigration detainer. An immigration detainer is a formal request asking a jail or prison to hold a person so ICE can take custody before they are released.
Giovanni-Quiroa had been convicted of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child and aggravated battery with a firearm. He had been sentenced to 19 years in prison. When ICE officers tried to stop his vehicle on April 22, he refused to stop and attempted to flee. Officers were eventually able to arrest him safely. He is now in ICE custody and faces removal proceedings — the formal legal process to deport someone from the United States.
Deportation Defense Checklist — Free
Immigrant rights, appeals and protective measures
Tammy Marich, the acting Field Office Director for ICE Chicago, said the community was put at risk because the detainer was not honored. ICE says that when detainers are ignored, officers must arrest people in public, which it considers more dangerous than a transfer inside a facility. Giovanni-Quiroa will go through removal proceedings and will receive due process, meaning he has the right to appear before an immigration judge.
What This Means for Immigrants
This case is a reminder that a criminal conviction — especially for a serious crime — can lead directly to removal proceedings, even after a person has served their prison sentence. If you or someone you know is in jail or prison and has an immigration case, an immigration detainer may already be on file. This can affect what happens after release.
What to Do
- If you or a family member is in jail or prison, ask the facility whether an ICE detainer has been placed. You have the right to know.
- Contact an immigration lawyer as soon as possible. A lawyer can review your case and explain your options before ICE takes custody.
- If ICE takes you into custody, you may have the right to an immigration bond hearing — a hearing where a judge decides if you can be released while your case continues. Ask your lawyer about this right away.
- Do not ignore any notices from ICE or the immigration court. Missing a hearing can result in an automatic removal order against you.