A Liberian national identified as Mr. Eric Sumo has been apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Fairfax County, Virginia, for his alleged involvement in fraudulent and illegal processing of U.S. visas.
Sumo, 51, was reportedly one of three individuals arrested during a routine immigration enforcement operation on April 21. Authorities say he was in illegal status in the United States and had previously fled court trials in Liberia, where he faced multiple criminal charges including document fraud.
According to ICE, Sumo was in possession of and possibly involved in the manufacturing of fraudulent U.S. visa documents, a serious federal offense. His arrest was made following an active INTERPOL Diffusion notice issued by Liberian authorities, linking him to a wider document fraud scheme in Monrovia.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia welcomed the arrest and praised the collaborative efforts of both American and Liberian law enforcement agencies.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to the Liberia National Police (LNP) and the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) for their critical support and cooperation in this case,” the Embassy noted. “Their efforts continue to be vital in protecting the integrity of Liberia’s identity documents and safeguarding the rule of law.”
The Embassy also emphasized that such cooperation is vital to ensuring accountability and maintaining the security interests of both nations.
Sumo is currently in U.S. federal custody pending removal proceedings. Sources indicate he may face deportation to Liberia, where he is expected to answer to outstanding charges related to document fraud and evasion of justice.
This arrest marks another instance of transnational law enforcement cooperation aimed at cracking down on identity fraud and the abuse of immigration systems.
