ICE Deports Liberian War Crimes Suspect from Chicago
ICE Chicago removed Amos Sheik Massaquoi, 55, to Liberia on August 11, 2026, after he spent nearly two decades living in the United States illegally. Massaquoi is believed to have ordered extrajudicial killings, torture, forced labor, and the recruitment of child soldiers during Liberia's civil wars. His case shows that ICE actively pursues individuals suspected of human rights violations abroad — even those who have lived quietly in the US for years.
Who Is Massaquoi and What Did He Do?
Amos Sheik Massaquoi entered the United States legally in August 2006. He was authorized to stay only until November 6, 2006. He remained in the country without legal status for more than a decade after that deadline passed.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Maryland arrested him on August 23, 2019, for being illegally present in the US. An immigration judge granted him bond on October 7, 2019, and he was released. ICE Baltimore arrested him again on April 1, 2025, after he failed to comply with the terms of his release. A Department of Justice immigration judge ordered him removed on May 14, 2025. He was physically deported on August 11, 2026.
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Before coming to the US, Massaquoi is believed to have served as chief bodyguard to Maj. Gen. Daniel Chea, a former leader of Charles Taylor's National Patriotic Front of Liberia. He is suspected of participating in extrajudicial killings, acts of torture, arbitrary arrests, forced labor, and the recruitment of child soldiers during Liberia's civil wars from 1989 to 2003. He also received specialized military training in China in 2004. "If you are a confirmed human rights violator and you believe you can hide in the United States, you are mistaken," said ICE Chicago Field Office Director Frank Padula.
How ICE Tracks Human Rights Violators
ICE operates a dedicated unit called the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center. This center works to identify, locate, and prosecute people in the US who are known or suspected of persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, extrajudicial killings, or the use of child soldiers. Since 2003, ICE has arrested more than 520 people for human rights-related violations. During the same period, ICE obtained removal orders against and physically deported 1,178 known or suspected human rights violators, and facilitated the departures of an additional 208. The center has also issued more than 80,000 lookouts for potential perpetrators and stopped over 415 suspects from entering the US.
What This Means for Immigrants in Removal Proceedings
This case is a reminder that immigration judges can order removal — and that ICE can re-arrest someone who violates the conditions of their bond release. If you or someone you know is in removal proceedings (the formal legal process where a judge decides whether a person must leave the US), missing a court date or violating bond conditions can lead to immediate re-arrest and a final order of removal. If a removal order is issued, you have 30 days to appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). A motion to reopen a case — which asks the court to reconsider its decision — must be filed within 90 days of the order.
What to Do
- If you are in removal proceedings, attend every court hearing. Missing a hearing almost always results in an automatic removal order issued in your absence.
- If you receive a removal order, you have 30 days to file an appeal with the Board of Immigration Appeals. Do not wait — contact an immigration lawyer immediately.
- If you were released on immigration bond, follow every condition of your release exactly. Violating bond terms — even minor ones — can lead to re-arrest, as happened in this case.
- If you need to report a human rights violator, contact the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE or email HRV.ICE@ice.dhs.gov.
A full breakdown of this topic — in our guide “Your Rights During an ICE Encounter”.
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Anyone in removal proceedings who has been released on bond must treat every bond condition as non-negotiable — a single violation can land you back in detention with no guarantee of a second release. If a removal order has been issued, the 30-day appeal window to the Board of Immigration Appeals is a hard deadline; missing it typically ends your options in immigration court. Speak with an immigration attorney as soon as possible after any ICE contact or court order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can ICE re-arrest me after I was released on immigration bond?
Yes. If you violate any condition of your bond release — such as failing to check in, changing your address without notice, or getting arrested — ICE can re-arrest you. In this case, ICE Baltimore re-arrested Massaquoi specifically because he failed to comply with the terms of his release.
How long do I have to appeal a removal order?
You have 30 days from the date the immigration judge issues the removal order to file an appeal with the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). Missing this deadline almost always means the order becomes final and ICE can deport you.
What is a motion to reopen and when can I file one?
A motion to reopen asks the immigration court to reconsider your case — for example, if new evidence appears or your situation has changed. You generally must file it within 90 days of the removal order. There are limited exceptions, so talk to a lawyer quickly.
Does ICE really track people who committed crimes in other countries?
Yes. ICE runs a dedicated Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center that issues lookouts, investigates leads, and works to deport people suspected of war crimes, torture, or persecution abroad — even if those acts happened decades ago and in another country. Since 2003, ICE has physically removed 1,178 known or suspected human rights violators from the US.