A Massachusetts man, Bryan Rafael Gomez, who was wanted for murder, has been deported back to the Dominican Republic after spending months at large following his release from custody.
Gomez, 27, entered the United States illegally in 2022 after being encountered by Border Patrol in Lukeville, Arizona. A criminal arrest warrant was issued for him in the Dominican Republic on January 24, 2023, related to a March 2021 incident where he and another individual allegedly shot two people during an argument, resulting in one fatality.
Worcester police arrested Gomez on April 4, 2026, for assault and battery involving a former girlfriend. He was released on a $500 bail, after which the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took him into custody. U.S. District Judge Melissa DuBose ordered his release on April 28, 2026, pending a bond hearing, but Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Bolan did not inform the court about the outstanding homicide warrant, leading to criticism from the Department of Homeland Security.
Following the discovery of the warrant, Judge DuBose re-detained Gomez. He failed to report to ICE as ordered in early May 2026 and evaded authorities for several months.
In July 2026, Gomez was taken back into custody in Massachusetts, with ICE indicating it would detain him upon any release by state authorities. An immigration judge had also issued a final order of removal against him.
On October 20, 2026, ICE Boston announced that Gomez had been successfully removed from the United States. This case has garnered attention due to the initial oversight in disclosing the foreign homicide warrant, resulting in the extended period he spent outside of custody before his recapture.
