U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed Wednesday that its agents were involved in the arrest of an alleged murder and Ecuadorian national who was evading a warrant from his home country while living in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio.
An ICE press release confirmed the February 12 arrest of Luis Naula-Candelario in conjunction with the U.S. Marshals Service, with the agency describing Naula-Candelario as “a criminal alien from Ecuador who is wanted in his home country for murder.”
Naula-Candelario (pictured above) was arrested by ICE agents and Marshals in Pickerington, which is located about 15 miles southeast of Columbus.
The agency reported that Naula-Candelario remains in ICE custody, and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Detroit Field Office Director Robert Lynch said the arrest serves as evidence that “fugitives will find no safe haven, here in Ohio or across the U.S., for crimes they committed in their home countries.”
Lynch added, “By removing these fugitives from our communities, we not only prevent them from victimizing Americans but also ensure that justice is served for their victims abroad.”
According to ABC 6, Naula-Candelario is wanted in Ecuador for the 2019 murder of Brenda Alexandra Garcia Puya and was first included on the nation’s list of most wanted fugitives in 2022.
The outlet reported that Marshals confirmed ICE was involved in the arrest and stated that Naula-Candelario forced authorities to engage in a “brief standoff” before exiting a home in Pickerington.
Marshal Michael D. Black told ABC 6, “This arrest is the result of the daily sharing of resources and information with all our task force partners. We will continue to support ICE in their immigration enforcement efforts by locating and arresting those in the country illegally who are wanted for violent crimes.”
The agency did not state when Naula-Candelario entered the country, but his arrest follows an immigration surge during the Biden administration that saw the country reach a pace of net migration, including those who entered the country legally and illegally, that has not been seen since the 19th century.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
