U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detains Individual Claiming Saint Kitts and Nevis Citizenship After Vehicular Surveillance in the U.S. Virgin Islands

The Case of Antonio Elias Ovalle Castro: A Deep Dive into Alleged Immigration Fraud and Caribbean Citizenship Claims

The arrest of Antonio Elias Ovalle Castro in the U.S. Virgin Islands has sparked a complex investigation involving claims of fraudulent citizenship, illegal re-entry, and the potential exploitation of regional identity verification systems. Castro, claiming citizenship of St. Kitts and Nevis, was apprehended on June 30, 2025, following a multi-agency surveillance operation initiated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The operation, which began with a seemingly routine vehicle registration check, quickly unravelled a tangled web of past deportations, alleged fraudulent identifications, and a persistent pattern of unauthorized entry into the United States. This case raises significant concerns about the integrity of citizenship verification processes within the Caribbean region and highlights the challenges faced by immigration authorities in combating sophisticated methods of circumvention.

The initial phase of the operation began on June 26, 2025, with surveillance of a green SUV parked outside a McDonald’s on Route 313 in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Upon checking the vehicle’s registration with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, ICE agents identified Castro as the owner. Subsequent queries within national immigration databases revealed Castro’s illegal status within the U.S., prompting agents to initiate discreet surveillance. This led them to a TotalEnergies gas station in Time Center, where Castro and another individual were apprehended and transported to an ICE detention facility on Crown Mountain. The arrest marked the beginning of a deeper investigation into Castro’s history and his claims of Caribbean citizenship.

Castro’s detention led to a series of revelations regarding his past attempts to enter and reside in the United States illegally. Under questioning, Castro admitted to being deported from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 2011. He further confessed to re-entering the U.S. illegally in 2023 through St. John, bypassing all official immigration channels. Despite being born in the Dominican Republic, Castro asserted his citizenship of St. Kitts and Nevis, a claim that immigration officials are currently working to verify. This assertion has raised red flags and prompted further investigation into the potential use of fraudulent documentation or exploitation of vulnerabilities within the Caribbean citizenship acquisition process.

Castro’s history of unauthorized entry into the U.S. dates back to at least 2003, with subsequent entries documented in 2010. Court documents reveal allegations of his using fraudulent identification documents in these previous attempts. These repeated attempts to circumvent U.S. immigration laws demonstrate a persistent pattern of disregard for legal processes and raise questions about the methods and networks potentially facilitating these illegal entries. The investigation into this current case may shed light on these networks and the strategies employed to obtain and utilize fraudulent identification documents.

At a court hearing held on Friday, U.S. prosecutors successfully argued for Castro’s detention until trial, citing concerns about the significant flight risk he poses. Magistrate Alan Teague granted the request, and a follow-up hearing is scheduled for Monday. This detention underscores the seriousness of the charges against Castro and the determination of U.S. authorities to ensure he faces the legal consequences of his actions. The upcoming hearing will likely involve further arguments regarding the validity of Castro’s citizenship claim and the evidence related to his previous illegal entries and alleged use of fraudulent documents.

This case highlights broader concerns surrounding the potential for fraudulent claims of Caribbean citizenship and the need for strengthened identity verification protocols across the region. The ease with which Castro allegedly obtained and utilized a St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship claim, despite being a Dominican Republic native with a history of illegal U.S. entries, raises serious questions about the robustness of current verification systems. This case underscores the necessity for regional collaboration and information sharing among Caribbean nations and international partners to address these vulnerabilities and prevent similar instances of immigration fraud in the future. The Times Caribbean will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as they become available.