ICE Deports Dominican Migrant Wanted for Human Smuggling That Led to Death of 3 Minors

A Dominican man wanted in his home country for human smuggling that resulted in the deaths of three minors was deported by ICE Miami earlier this week, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Batista Matos, 36, was sent home on an ICE removal flight for the fifth time on Monday.

He departed Miami for Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where he was met by local law enforcement and taken into custody.

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Matos was first deported on Oct. 8, 2010, when U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered him near Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, after he had entered the territory illegally.

Though details of the encounters were not provided, ICE said he was also found and removed in 2011, 2019 and 2023.

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