ICE - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

05/04/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/04/2026 08:24

ICE Chicago arrests violent illegal alien sex offender after Illinois fails to honor detainer, releases him into community

CHICAGO - ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations Chicago officers arrested Erik Giovanni-Quiroa, 41, a dangerous criminal illegal alien and child sex abuser April 22 after the Illinois Department of Corrections failed to honor an ICE immigration detainer and released him into the community.

Giovanni-Quiroa, of Guatemala, was convicted of aggravated sexual abuse of a 5-year-old child and aggravated battery with a firearm. He was sentenced to 19 years in prison.

"The safety of our community was put at risk due to the failure to honor an immigration detainer," said ICE Chicago acting Field Office Director Tammy Marich. "Thankfully, no one was hurt, but none of this should have happened. Detainers allow us to safely take custody of criminal illegal aliens with no danger or threat to the public."

ICE Chicago officers finished the job Illinois refused to do. Officers were conducting targeted enforcement operations April 22 when they encountered Giovanni-Quiroa and attempted to perform a vehicle stop. Gionvanni-Quiroa once again endangered the public by refusing to stop when given lawful commands, attempting to flee in his vehicle. Officers were eventually able to safely arrest him, and he remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings and will receive full due process.

When sanctuary politicians ignore ICE detainers, they are protecting criminal illegal aliens at the expense of American citizens. These are criminals with prior convictions for rape, murder, drug trafficking and other dangerous crimes, and instead of holding them for ICE, sanctuary politicians release them back into our communities.

In non-sanctuary jurisdictions, law enforcement officials honor ICE detainers and transfer criminal illegal aliens to ICE custody for detention and deportation.

You can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

Learn more about ICE's public safety mission on X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky and Truth Social.

ICE - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement published this content on May 04, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on May 04, 2026 at 14:24 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]