ICE agents arrest Syrian man outside Providence courthouse

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents this month arrested a Syrian man who had overstayed his guest visa by 19 years outside a Providence courthouse, where he was due to appear on charges of an unlicensed sale of cigarettes, according to a spokesman for ICE.

Deportation officers with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations took Abulkhalek Darwich, 48, of Pawtucket, into custody on June 1, following his Superior Court appearance at Licht Judicial Complex on a 2015 case charging him with felony importation of cigarettes with the intent to evade taxes and other misdemeanor tax offenses, according to Shawn Neudauer, public affairs officer for ICE New England.

Darwich entered the United States lawfully as a visitor in 1998 and overstayed his lawful visit by nearly 20 years, Neudauer said in an email. Darwich will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

Darwich in 2010 admitted to a misdemeanor charge of selling unstamped cigarettes and received a sentence of one year probation and $3,000-plus in fees, fines and restitution.

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