El Paso Standard

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has successfully deported Napolean Ahmed Mbonyunkiza, a 56-year-old Rwandan national convicted of sex offenses and human rights violations, back to Rwanda on March 4.

In 2010, Mbonyunkiza faced charges in the United States for sexual abuse in the third degree, neglect of a dependent person, and dependent adult abuse. After being released on bond, he fled before his criminal court proceedings concluded.

ICE paroled Mbonyunkiza into the U.S. in 2013 to face justice for these crimes. During their investigation, ICE’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center discovered his connections to the Mouvement Republicain National pour la Democratie et le Developpement. This political party is linked with the Interahamwe militia involved in the Rwandan genocide.

Mbonyunkiza pled guilty to all charges in 2014 and received a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. He served ten years before ICE took him into custody in January 2024, initiating removal proceedings.

An immigration judge from the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review ordered his deportation to Rwanda on April 15, 2024. ICE executed this order without incident by handing him over to Rwandan authorities.

The Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center leads efforts to prevent individuals responsible for war crimes, genocide, torture, and other human rights abuses from finding refuge in the U.S. The center currently manages over 180 active investigations into suspected human rights violators while pursuing more than 1,945 leads and removal cases involving suspects from 95 countries. Since its inception in 2003, it has issued more than 79,000 lookouts for potential perpetrators of human rights abuses and prevented over 390 suspects from entering the country.

Reports of suspicious criminal activity can be made through the ICE Tip Line at any time by calling 866-DHS-2-ICE or completing an online tip form. Reports are handled by highly trained specialists who manage information regarding more than 400 laws enforced by ICE.

For further details about ICE's mission concerning human rights violators' removal efforts, follow them on X @ICEgov.