ICE arrests Sudanese national with violent criminal history in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations New Orleans officers arrested Gabriel Maror Ayuel, a criminal illegal alien from Sudan, in Nashville on May 5. Ayuel, 55, was convicted of first-degree attempted murder in Davidson County in 2003 and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Ayuel entered the United States as a refugee from Sudan in 1995. In addition to his attempted murder conviction, his criminal record after entering the U.S. includes arrests for driving under the influence and failure to appear in Georgia, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, felony possession of a prohibited weapon and felony flight to avoid prosecution in Tennessee.

"Removing illegal aliens with serious criminal convictions from our communities is essential to protecting public safety," said ERO New Orleans acting Field Office Director Brian Acuna. "We are committed to enforcing immigration laws and prioritizing cases that pose a threat to our neighborhoods."

An immigration judge issued a final order of removal for Ayuel in July 2008. He did not depart the country and remained in the United States for more than 17 years, a felony offense. After months of investigation, ICE officers located Ayuel in an apartment in South Nashville. He told officers he had just moved into the apartment the week before. Ayuel will remain in ICE custody pending removal.

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