Ethiopian War Criminal Deported From Arizona

ELOY, AZ – Federal immigration authorities quietly removed Solomon Bogale, a man accused of atrocities as a member of the extremist paramilitary group Fano, to his native Ethiopia on March 4th. Bogale, a citizen of Ethiopia, slipped into the United States on September 16, 2023, crossing the border illegally. He was apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection just two days later, triggering removal proceedings that culminated in his deportation from Arizona.

The Ethiopian government has officially designated Fano as a terrorist organization. Evidence presented to an immigration judge in Baltimore, Maryland, revealed numerous social media posts where Bogale openly identified himself as a Fano member. These posts weren’t just boasts of affiliation; they contained explicit calls for the persecution and violent “cleansing” of the Tigrayan ethnic group within Ethiopia, according to ICE officials.

“Our officers continue to effect the removal of suspected human rights violators to their home countries,” stated Christopher McGregor, acting Field Office Director for ERO Phoenix. While standard boilerplate for these removals, the case of Bogale underscores a growing effort by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to target individuals with documented histories of violence and extremism, even if those crimes occurred overseas.

The case was spearheaded by ICE’s Office of the Principal Legal Advisor in Baltimore, with crucial support from the agency’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC). The HRVWCC, established in 2003, is tasked with identifying, tracking, and prosecuting individuals accused of atrocities like persecution, war crimes, genocide, torture, and the recruitment of child soldiers. Since its inception, the center claims to have arrested over 520 individuals and secured deportation orders for 1,178 suspected human rights abusers.

While ICE touts these numbers, critics argue the HRVWCC often operates in the shadows, relying heavily on social media evidence and lacking robust due process protections for those accused. The agency maintains that the removal of individuals like Bogale is vital for both public safety and national security. They also point to the issuance of over 80,000 “lookouts” for potential perpetrators and the prevention of over 415 individuals from entering the U.S. based on HRVWCC intelligence.

ICE encourages the public to report information about suspected human rights violators. Tips can be submitted through the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE, an online tip form, or via email to HRV.ICE@ice.dhs.gov. The deportation of Solomon Bogale serves as a stark reminder that the long arm of the law – and ICE – can reach those accused of atrocities, even across international borders. The question remains, however, if this deportation will truly deliver justice for the victims of the conflict in Ethiopia.