ST. CROIX — As federal immigration enforcement activity continues to draw attention in the Virgin Islands, Border Patrol agents say they have arrested a Dominican Republic national on St. Croix who was previously deported from the United States after being convicted in federal court of kidnapping conspiracy and using a machine gun to commit a crime.
According to agents, the arrest took place during a Saturday operation in an area they described as “known for the employment of illegal aliens.” While on patrol, agents said they encountered a man at a construction site who ran when they tried to approach him.
He was captured after what agents described as a short chase and was identified as Jorge Lorenzo-Hernandez.
Authorities said Lorenzo-Hernandez admitted he was a citizen of the Dominican Republic and was not legally present in the Virgin Islands.
After he was arrested and transferred to the Border Patrol station in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, agents conducted system checks and determined that he had first entered the United States as a legal immigrant in 1993.
According to agents, that status later changed after he was arrested in 1997 and charged with kidnapping conspiracy and using a machine gun to commit a federal crime. He was convicted and sentenced to more than 40 years in prison.
In 2007, agents said, his legal immigration status was cancelled and he was deported to the Dominican Republic.
Authorities say Lorenzo-Hernandez returned to the United States in 2025. According to the account provided by agents, he traveled from the Dominican Republic to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands in October, then took a boat to St. John in November.
From there, he made his way to St. Croix, where agents say he remained until his apprehension on Saturday.
Lorenzo-Hernandez has been charged with violations of U.S. immigration law.
He is awaiting his first appearance before U.S. Magistrate Emile Henderson III.
The arrest comes at a time of heightened attention on immigration enforcement in the territory, particularly after recent Border Patrol actions on St. Croix stirred public concern and drew comments from local officials about how such operations are being carried out.
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