BALTIMORE, MD—An illegal immigrant who was arrested three times for illegally entering the U.S. and was previously deported twice is now back in custody after being released from a Maryland jail, federal authorities announced.
Rene Pop-Chub, 32, a Guatemalan national, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on April 12 in Hyattsville, Maryland, after Prince George’s County Department of Corrections failed to honor an ICE immigration detainer, releasing him back into the public.
Pop faces charges of murder, second-degree assault, and reckless endangerment.
“The arrest of Rene Pop-Chub underscores the critical importance of cooperation between federal and local counterparts,” said ICE Baltimore Acting Field Office Director Nikita Baker. “When jurisdictions refuse to honor our immigration detainers, they put their own communities at risk — as was the case here, where a dangerous illegal alien charged with murder and assault was released back onto the streets. Thanks to the unwavering dedication and tireless efforts of our officers, this individual has been taken back into custody. Their work ensures that he will now face justice and will no longer pose a threat to public safety in Maryland.”
U.S. Border Patrol first arrested Pop in June 2013 in Falfurrias, Texas, and deported him to Guatemala in September of that year. He was arrested again after illegally reentering the U.S. in December 2017 in Cowlic, Arizona, and deported a second time in December 2017.
Pop illegally reentered the U.S. a third time. Pop reentered the United States for a third time at an unknown location and date without an immigration officer’s inspection, admission, or parole. He was arrested by Prince George’s County Police in August 2024 and charged with first-degree assault. ICE lodged an immigration detainer with the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections in October 2024.
Even though Pop’s case was transferred to the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County for the offenses of murder, first-degree assault, second-degree assault, and reckless endangerment, the PGCDC released Pop from custody on April 8. ICE arrested him four days later and issued him a notice of intent to reinstate a prior order of removal.
ICE reports that Pop is now in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.
Photo via ICE.gov
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