A Brazilian national, Enmanuel Fernandes-Calixto, aged 20, has been arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including assaulting and interfering with a federal officer. This was announced by United States Attorney David Metcalf. Fernandes-Calixto, who is also known by the aliases Emanuel Fernandes and Emanuel Bartholomew, is in federal custody without legal status in the United States.
According to the criminal complaint, the incident occurred on or around April 2, 2025. An Enforcement and Removal Officer from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Fernandes-Calixto for immigration violations. During transport, he allegedly attempted to escape by striking and pushing the officer while still handcuffed. The defendant fled and hid in a house in Northeast Philadelphia. He was subsequently apprehended that evening with assistance from the Philadelphia Police Department SWAT team.
The complaint further notes that after entering the U.S. illegally and being released from immigration detention, Fernandes-Calixto violated his release conditions. He was previously arrested in Philadelphia for other offenses, including strangulation and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, from incidents alleged to have occurred in August 2024. These local charges are pending.
Despite an ICE detainer, the defendant was released from Philadelphia custody in March 2025. The current case is under investigation by the ICE - Enforcement and Removal Operations.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, which utilizes Department of Justice resources to address illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime. It is important to note that an indictment, information, or criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.