USCIS Assists in Investigation Leading to Removal of Fugitive Criminal Predator

Alien wanted by Belgian authorities for sexually exploiting a child

WASHINGTON - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provided valuable assistance in the investigation that led Immigration and Customs Enforcement to remove Romulus Mihai, an illegally present 33-year old Belgian fugitive convicted of sexual exploitation of a child in his native country. ICE Homeland Security Investigations in Washington, D.C., arrested Mihai in April, and ICE turned him over to Belgian authorities July 31.

After he was convicted of a child sex crime in Belgium, Mihai fled to the United States to avoid serving his prison sentence. He entered the U.S. under the visa waiver program in April 2013 and continued through the immigration process, trying to gain U.S. citizenship. However, he never disclosed his criminal history.

USCIS discovered his criminal history while adjudicating his naturalization application, and USCIS' Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate referred his cases to HSI Washington, D.C., for further investigation. Based on evidence obtained in the investigation, Mihai was arrested and placed into immigration proceedings. A Department of Justice immigration judge ordered him removed June 26.

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