CHELSEA, MA — A Guatemalan national living illegally in the U.S. was arrested by federal immigration authorities after being released by a Massachusetts court despite an ICE detainer related to serious assault charges, including attacks on police officers.
Luis Javier Chavez-Galiego, 20, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Chelsea on Feb. 8. He faces multiple charges including two counts of assault and battery on a police officer and three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, identified in court records as a shod foot.
Key Points:
- ICE arrested Luis Javier Chavez-Galiego in Chelsea on Feb. 8 following violent assault charges.
- The suspect had been released by the court despite an active ICE detainer.
- Chavez originally entered the U.S. illegally near El Paso, Texas in 2019.
Prior arrest and court release raise federal concern
Chavez was previously apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol on Feb. 24, 2019, after crossing illegally near El Paso, Texas. He was served a notice to appear before an immigration judge but remained in the country.
On Sept. 20, 2024, the Chelsea District Court arraigned him on charges including assaulting police officers and using a shod foot as a dangerous weapon. He was again arraigned on Feb. 5, 2025, for default warrants on the same charges.
ICE Boston issued an immigration detainer the same day as his February arraignment, requesting that the court hold Chavez for federal custody. The court, however, declined to honor the detainer and released him from custody.
ICE director cites public safety
“Luis Javier Chavez-Galiego illegally came to this country and apparently assaulted members of our Massachusetts community to include an officer of the law,” said Patricia H. Hyde, acting field office director for ICE Boston Enforcement and Removal Operations.
ICE emphasized it will continue to remove criminal noncitizens who pose a threat to public safety.