Man Arrested on Gun Charges in St. Thomas Now in ICE Custody as Immigration Crackdown Intensifies

Julnes Orelus was arrested on gun charges after a traffic stop in St. Thomas, but his case was dismissed when ICE agents detained him in court. His arrest comes amid increased federal immigration enforcement in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

ST. THOMAS — A man's felony gun possession charges were dismissed in court on Monday after immigration officials detained him when he appeared for his advice of rights hearing. This development highlights the increasing presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in the U.S. Virgin Islands amid ongoing federal immigration crackdowns.

According to court documents, in the pre-dawn hours of Sunday morning, officers patrolling Donningens Gade spotted a white Honda CR-V overtake the vehicle in front of it and break the red light at the Strand Gate intersection. They initiated a traffic stop, and the CR-V came to a halt near the Rothschild Francis Market Square. Police spoke to the driver, Julnes Orelus, and informed him that it was not legal to make a right turn at red lights.