US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Latvian citizen and former 'Dancing with the Stars' contestant Roberts Nemiro in San Francisco; he has a violent criminal history.
According to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statement, Nemiro entered the US on a visa in October 2011, but continued to stay illegally after his visa expired in August 2012.
Nemiro's criminal record includes convictions for aggravated assault with a weapon against a non-family member and disturbing the peace. He was also arrested on charges of battery, sexual assault, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
DHS Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said, "This Latvian illegal immigrant may have built a career as a professional dancer on television, but he turned into a career criminal with a record that includes aggravated assault with a weapon, sexual assault, and drug possession."
Bis emphasized that despite California's 'sanctuary state' status, ICE would capture Nemiro and soon deport him. Nemiro had appeared as a contestant on Latvia's version of 'Dancing with the Stars,' titled 'Dejo ar zvaigzni!'
The arrest was carried out following a notification from US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). DHS highlighted a recent series of cases where California's sanctuary policies have hindered federal immigration enforcement.