Former Latvian DWTS contestant arrested by ICE in California over violent offenses
Immigration officials in San Francisco detained Roberts Nemiro, a former Latvian Dancing with the Stars participant, after uncovering a history of violent crimes.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents captured Roberts Nemiro in San Francisco on Tuesday, identifying him as a former contestant on Latvia’s Dancing with the Stars. Nemiro, 43, entered the United States on a visa in 2011 and remained after it lapsed in 2012, becoming an unlawful resident. Federal officials disclosed that his criminal history features aggravated assault with a gun, disorderly conduct, battery, sexual battery, and drug-related offenses.
The operation was initiated after U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provided his location. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis emphasized that the arrest shows ICE’s ability to enforce immigration law despite California’s sanctuary policies. Nemiro is currently held in ICE detention while removal proceedings are pending.
Why it matters
The case illustrates how immigration enforcement can intersect with serious criminal histories, even in states that limit cooperation.
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