ICE Captures Illegal Alien Who Cape Hatteras Park Rangers Cited for Poaching Fish

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. - Earlier this week, the U.S. Marshals arrested Walter Betancourth, 46, a Honduran citizen illegally present in the United States, and turned him over to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE"). The Marshals arrested Betancourth following his appearance in Federal Court related to fish and wildlife crimes at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Court documents show that on June 15, 2025, Park Rangers noticed a group of five Hispanic males overfishing red drum. The Rangers' investigation revealed that Betancourth and his gang poached 16 red drum. The daily limit is one per person. Several of the fish were too big and should have been thrown back. Betancourth had an existing final order of removal from the United States from April 14, 2022.

"Illegal Aliens come to our land and exploit our national resources doing as they please because they completely disregard our shared values, customs, and rules. North Carolina strictly regulates our fish to ensure their availability to all North Carolina citizens now and in the future. This sort of disgusting disregard for our natural bounty is exactly the sort of behavior you might expect from someone who chose to unlawfully enter and illegally remain in the United States, ignoring a final order of removal," said U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. "Let this serve as a reminder to those aliens who are illegally present - we will find you and send you back no matter where you are or what you are doing - even just fishing at the beach. I commend the fine cooperation of the Park Rangers, the Marshals, and ICE in effectuating Betancourth's deportation."

Betancourth's arrest was facilitated by active cooperation between ICE, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, and the U.S. Marshals Service. Those and other components of the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security will continue to work together to further the nationwide mission to repel the invasion of illegal immigration.

Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement.

###