The Lawrence man accused of assaulting a Massachusetts State Police trooper, sending the statie to the hospital last week, is now expected to face ICE removal proceedings.
Hernan Aybar-Romero, 25, was arrested on Tuesday after he was wanted for a “brazen” assault on a trooper on Interstate 495 in Tewksbury last week, State Police reported.
Months ago in February, U.S. Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston had filed an immigration detainer request with the Lawrence Police Department following Aybar-Romero’s arrest on local charges. ICE was seeking custody of the illegal immigrant from the Dominican Republic.
Lawrence District Court ended up releasing Aybar-Romero on bail on April 3, without notifying ICE.
Then last Friday, Aybar-Romero allegedly assaulted a statie before getting arrested on Tuesday.
“On July 12 (Wednesday), ERO Boston lodged an immigration detainer with the Lawrence District Court and Essex County House of Corrections on Aybar-Romero after his arrest by the Massachusetts State Police the previous day,” an ICE spokesperson said in a statement.
“ERO Boston will seek custody of Aybar-Romero following his release from state custody and seek to detain him in ICE custody pending future removal proceedings,” the ICE spokesperson added.
An immigration detainer is a notice that the Department of Homeland Security issues to federal, state and local law enforcement agencies — informing the police that ICE intends to assume custody of an individual.
Detainers are key for ICE to identify and ultimately remove illegal immigrants who are in federal, state or local custody.
On July 7 on I-495 in Tewksbury, a trooper stopped Aybar-Romero for motor vehicle violations, and then learned that he had four outstanding warrants for his arrest — including for charges of trafficking in heroin/morphine/opium/fentanyl (100 grams or more).
After getting out of his vehicle, Aybar-Romero reportedly became violent and assaulted the trooper as he was being put into handcuffs. Aybar-Romero was able to re-enter his vehicle and sped away, police said. The trooper was later treated and released from Lowell General Hospital.
“This is the perfect example of what happens when courts adopt insane sanctuary city policies,” a law enforcement official with knowledge of the case told the Herald.
State Police eventually tracked Aybar-Romero to a Lawrence apartment, where they arrested him on Tuesday on a litany of charges.
Those charges were: assault and battery on a police officer; assault with a dangerous weapon; resisting arrest; malicious destruction of property over $1,200; refusing to identify himself to police; unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle; attaching plates; operating with a suspended/revoked registration; operating an uninsured motor vehicle; and no inspection sticker.