Federal authorities nabbed an illegal immigrant after he showed up for a court appearance on charges of overfishing.

Walter Betancourth was ordered deported in 2022 but was defying that order.

A park ranger discovered him among “Hispanic males” who were fishing a salt pond at North Carolina’s Cape Hatteras National Seashore in June.

Their vehicle lacked an off-road permit, and during a traffic stop, the ranger said Mr. Betancourth admitted to having caught three red drum fish, or two over the daily limit in North Carolina. One was also over the legal 27-inch length limit.

The ranger cited Mr. Betancourth for a misdemeanor offense.

When the 46-year-old Honduran showed up for a federal court appearance this week, the U.S. Marshals swooped in, arrested him and turned him over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“Illegal aliens come to our land and exploit our national resources doing as they please because they completely disregard our shared values, customs and rules,” said Ellis Boyle, the U.S. attorney in eastern North Carolina whose office announced the case.

He called the overfishing a “disgusting disregard for our natural bounty.”

“Let this serve as a reminder to those aliens who are illegally present — we will find you and send you back no matter where you are or what you are doing — even just fishing at the beach,” he said.

• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.