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ERO: Removal

ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) removes aliens from the U.S. who are subject to a final order of removal or have been granted voluntary departure. ERO’s Removal Division coordinates, manages, and facilitates efforts to successfully remove aliens from the United States. In collaboration with other ICE offices and the Department of State, ERO also works with international partners to successfully execute removal operations.

ERO's Removal Division comprises the following:

  • ICE Air Operations Division: Provides commercial and chartered aviation support, both domestically and internationally, to all 24 ERO Field Offices strategically located throughout the United States, providing air transportation to transfer aliens to designated detention locations and/or to staging sites in order to accomplish removal flights to aliens’ countries of origin.
  • Removal Management Divisions East and West: Supports the 24 ERO Field Offices nationwide in the coordination of removals, and develops and implements strategies to support ERO's mission to remove priority aliens from the United States through collaboration within the agency as well as interagency stakeholders, foreign embassies and consulates, and international networks.
  • International Operations Division: Comprised of ERO’s overseas-based personnel and supports the 24 ERO Field Offices nationwide through regular and ongoing liaison with host-nation government officials in the coordination of removal operations. 
Marlen Piñeiro, Assistant Director for Removal, Enforcement and Removal Operations
Marlen Piñeiro
Assistant Director for Removal, Enforcement and Removal Operations

In June 2014, Marlen Piñeiro became the Assistant Director for the Removal Division. ERO’s removal operations require complex coordination, management and facilitation efforts to successfully remove aliens from the United States. ERO accomplishes this mission through contract/chartered flights and commercial airlines for escorted and unescorted removals. In collaboration with the ICE Homeland Security Investigations Office of International Affairs and the Department of State, ERO also works with international partners to successfully execute removal operations.

Prior to her placement as AD, Ms. Piñeiro was the Assistant Attaché for Removal in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Ms. Piñeiro began with ICE/INS in 1987; and throughout her tenure with the agency, she has held a variety of leadership positions both in the field and at Headquarters (HQ). She has worked as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Director of ERO, Chief of the HQ Case Management Unit, Assistant Field Office Director, Supervisory Deportation Officer, Deportation Officer, Supervisory District Adjudications Officer, Immigration Officer, and Immigration Inspector.

In addition, Ms. Piñeiro has successfully served in various overseas locations, including the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Italy and Cuba. She has received significant honors for her efforts, including a Director’s Award for her work in re-establishing the removal program in Haiti after the devastating earthquake there.

Ms. Piñeiro graduated from Florida International University, where she majored in Criminal Justice and minored in Public Administration.

 

Last Reviewed/Updated: 01/03/2018