Convicted drug dealer seen sobbing as she’s arrested by ICE after reentering US

Virginia Basora-Gonzalez, a 36-year-old Dominican drug dealer previously deported for peddling fentanyl, was recently apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Philadelphia. The emotional arrest took place last Wednesday, with Basora-Gonzalez seen breaking down in tears as she was taken into custody.

A federal arrest warrant was issued for Basora-Gonzalez on the same day a notice of intent to reinstate a final removal order against her was to be served. She will remain in federal custody pending charges for reentry after deportation, according to ICE officials.

Photos released by ICE depict Basora-Gonzalez visibly upset as she is led away in handcuffs. The convicted drug dealer had been living illegally in the US when she was first arrested by the Drug Enforcement Administration in Pennsylvania in June 2019 for possessing 40 grams or more of fentanyl and aiding and abetting.

Following her arrest, Basora-Gonzalez pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 12 months, one day of confinement, and four years of supervised release. However, before she could serve her sentence, she was deported back to the Dominican Republic by ICE in October 2020.

Despite being deported, Basora-Gonzalez illegally reentered the US for a second time at an unknown date. ICE officials discovered her return after receiving a tip from a confidential source on March 7, 2025.

Basora-Gonzalez was apprehended outside her workplace at La Tierra Del Caribe Restaurant in North Philadelphia, where she was reportedly employed as a cook. Law enforcement confirmed her identity through the FBI fingerprint database.

Her court-appointed attorney argued against her detention before trial, stating that being charged with illegal reentry did not make her a flight risk. However, the government insisted on her pretrial detention, citing her previous drug trafficking conviction as grounds for keeping her in custody.

The joint operation to arrest Basora-Gonzalez highlights the collaborative efforts of federal law enforcement agencies to uphold immigration laws and remove individuals engaged in serious criminal activities from communities.ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Philadelphia acting Field Office Director Brian McShane emphasized the commitment to protecting communities from criminal aliens who pose a threat to public safety.

The emotional arrest of Virginia Basora-Gonzalez serves as a reminder of the consequences faced by individuals who engage in illegal activities and attempt to reenter the US after deportation.