Andre Ali Charged

Andre Ali, 27, a citizen and national of Guyana, has been arrested and charged with escape from custody, which carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

According to U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, Ali was encountered by Customs and Border Protection officers at the Rainbow Bridge Port of Entry in Niagara Falls, NY, in the early morning hours of September 1, 2025. Ali was driving a vehicle that made a wrong turn onto the bridge, coming from the United States, and did not have an identity document.

Ali was escorted to secondary inspection, during which it was determined that he was unlawfully present in the United States. He was admitted to the United States in April 2018, as a visitor and was authorized to remain for a temporary period, not to exceed October 15, 2018.

Ali was handcuffed and escorted to a secure room to await his administrative processing. However, he managed to escape by climbing on top of a bench in the secure room and proceeding to climb into the ceiling cavity. He then fell through the ceiling in the room directly adjacent to the secure room, where he crawled under a shelf.

Officers quickly noticed Ali had escaped and retook physical control. This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

The complaint is the result of an investigation by Customs and Border protection, under the direction of Director of Field Operations Rose Brophy. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Smith is handling the case. The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The arrest and charging of Andre Ali demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to enforcing immigration laws and maintaining public safety. As the investigation continues, more information may become available about the circumstances surrounding Ali’s escape and the efforts to bring him to justice.

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