Migrant Woman Previously Deported Caught Dealing Drugs in Philadelphia, Arrested During ICE Operation

Migrant Woman Previously Deported Caught Dealing Drugs in Philadelphia, Arrested During ICE Operation

PHILADELPHIA — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested a Dominican national in Philadelphia who had previously been convicted of drug trafficking and deported, officials announced Thursday.

Virginia Basora-Gonzalez, 36, was taken into custody on March 12 during a joint operation involving ICE, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. She had reentered the U.S. without authorization after being deported in 2020.

Basora-Gonzalez was convicted in 2020 for attempted possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and aiding and abetting. She was sentenced to just over a year in prison, followed by four years of supervised release. ICE deported her to the Dominican Republic on October 6, 2020.

“This successful joint operation exemplifies the collaborative efforts of federal law enforcement agencies to enforce our nation’s immigration laws and remove dangerous individuals from our streets,” said ICE acting Field Office Director Brian McShane.

On March 12, ICE issued a notice of intent to reinstate Basora-Gonzalez’s prior removal order and obtained a federal arrest warrant. She was turned over to the U.S. Marshals Service and remains in custody pending prosecution for illegal reentry.