Federal immigration officers arrested Roberts Nemiro in San Francisco on July 28, 2023. The detention follows his illegal residence in the United States for nearly 14 years after his visa expired.

Nemiro, who competed on Latvia’s version of “Dancing With the Stars,” entered the United States legally on a visa in October 2011. His visa expired in August 2012, but he remained without lawful status for nearly 14 years.

The arrest was based on a referral from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that identified Nemiro’s criminal history. Federal officials report he has been convicted of aggravated assault involving a firearm and disorderly conduct, along with multiple arrests for battery, sexual battery, possession of controlled substances, and drug paraphernalia.

DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated that ICE made the arrest despite California’s sanctuary policies and that Nemiro would face deportation from the United States. He remains in federal immigration custody pending removal proceedings.

Federal authorities clarified that an arrest is not a conviction and allegations tied only to arrests should not be described as proven offenses.

The case highlights a critical gap in the U.S. immigration system: overstayers can remain in the country for years without enforcement action when different agencies do not share information. In this instance, USCIS provided the necessary lead to locate Nemiro and initiate his removal.