EASTON, Pa. — The U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement on Friday confirmed the arrest in Easton of a Honduran citizen suspected of committing homicide in his home country.
Yobani Bonilla-Bonilla, also known as Gilberto Perez-Alvarado, a 29-year-old citizen of Honduras, was arrested in Easton on June 14, according to a release from the agency’s Enforcement and Removal Operations branch in Philadelphia.
ICE was aided by Homeland Security Investigations Allentown and Drug Enforcement Administration Allentown, the release said.
"ICE Philadelphia remains steadfast in our mission to protect public safety by apprehending and removing individuals who pose a threat to our communities."ERO Philadelphia acting Field Office Director Brian McShane
ICE stated that Bonilla is a foreign fugitive wanted in Honduras for homicide under the name Perez-Alvarado.
Bonilla previously was arrested for driving under the influence by Wilson Borough Police Department in Wilson, the ICE report states.
"ICE Philadelphia remains steadfast in our mission to protect public safety by apprehending and removing individuals who pose a threat to our communities," ERO Philadelphia acting Field Office Director Brian McShane said.
"We will not allow foreign, violent actors to find sanctuary in the U.S. We will find them and remove them, so that they cannot harm the citizens of this country.”
Arrests and releases
The ICE report said U.S. Border Patrol arrested Bonilla near Hidalgo, Texas, June 9, 2015, after he entered the United States without admission or parole by an immigration officer.
He subsequently was served with a Notice and Order of Expedited Removal, finding him inadmissible to the U.S. pursuant to section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
On June 15, 2015, ERO San Antonio removed Bonilla from the United States to Honduras.
On Jan. 4, 2016, a court in Honduras issued an arrest warrant for Bonilla for homicide.
Bonilla again re-entered the United States without admission or parole by an immigration officer at an undetermined time and location, the report continues.
On Sep. 13, 2024, the Wilson police arrested Bonilla in the borough for driving under the influence. The charges remain pending.
Bonilla will remain in ICE custody pending prosecution for unlawful reentry and his removal from the United States, the report said.
'Not fully cooperating'
ICE has appeared several times in Easton to arrest those suspected of illegally entering the country, though in some cases, arrests were not directly tied to orders from the Trump administration.
In January 2025, suspected Tren de Aragua member Luis Gualdron-Gualdron was arrested outside Northampton County Prison.
Gualdron-Gualdron was described as a citizen and national of Venezuela with a criminal record including indecent assault of a minor.
"These raids are the actions of an authoritarian fascist regime, and we do not abide fascists in the Lehigh Valley."Lehigh County Commissioner Jon Irons at the June rally
In February, Amilcar Josue Villalvir Mendez was arrested outside the prison.
Mendez, a citizen of Honduras, was described in an ICE release as “a criminal alien with prior convictions for aggravated assault, theft by unlawful taking, possession of marijuana, speeding more than 25 MPH over the speed limit and retail theft.”
While the Trump administration has stated it focused its efforts on apprehending illegal immigrants with criminal connections, Lehigh Valley residents and people throughout the country have become wary of ICE’s quota to arrest 3,000 people per day.
"These raids are the actions of an authoritarian fascist regime, and we do not abide fascists in the Lehigh Valley," Lehigh County Commissioner Jon Irons said at the June rally.
