In Philadelphia, a 23-year-old man from Jamaica, wanted for murder in his home country, was arrested on December 17. The arrest was made by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Marshals Service during a focused operation. The man, identified as Jeovann Anthony Forde, is now in custody and awaiting deportation to Jamaica, where he faces serious charges related to a murder case.
The story dates back to May 2024 when Jamaican authorities issued a warrant for Forde’s arrest in connection to a murder. Before this, Forde had entered the United States through the San Ysidro Port of Entry in California on July 18, 2022. He was released the next day under a program called Alternatives to Detention, which is designed to supervise individuals awaiting immigration decisions. However, things took a turn when he stopped following the program’s rules, leading to his supervision being terminated on June 27, 2023. About a month later, on July 24, 2023, an immigration judge ordered his removal from the U.S. after Forde failed to appear for his hearing.
Speaking about the arrest, Acting Field Office Director Brian McShane from ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Philadelphia emphasized that fleeing to another country doesn’t mean escaping justice. He said this arrest should serve as a strong reminder that those trying to avoid prosecution will eventually be caught and returned to face the consequences.
Forde’s arrest isn’t an isolated case. In fact, it’s the fourth time in just two weeks that ERO Philadelphia has apprehended someone wanted for serious crimes in another country. These efforts underline the agency’s determination to find and remove individuals who pose risks to public safety.
This latest arrest highlights the ongoing cooperation between law enforcement agencies to ensure that those trying to avoid accountability are brought to justice.
