A former television dancer who entered the United States legally and remained illegally for nearly 14 years is now in federal immigration custody, according to officials.
Roberts Nemiro, 43, a contestant on Latvia’s version of Dejo ar zvaigzni!—known internationally as Dancing With the Stars—was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in San Francisco on July 28. Federal authorities stated Nemiro entered the U.S. on a visa in October 2011, with his visa expiring in August 2012. Despite this expiration, he remained unlawfully in the country for almost 14 years before being apprehended.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed ICE received the arrest referral from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) after identifying Nemiro’s location through interagency cooperation. Federal officials cited his criminal history as central to the case, including convictions for aggravated assault involving a gun and disorderly conduct, alongside arrests for battery, sexual battery, possession of controlled substances, and drug paraphernalia.
DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis emphasized that ICE conducted the arrest despite California’s sanctuary policies, stating Nemiro would face deportation pending removal proceedings. Officials clarified that while an arrest is not a conviction, Nemiro’s illegal presence after visa expiration—and his subsequent criminal record—constitutes grounds for immediate enforcement action.
The case highlights systemic gaps in immigration oversight: A visa grants temporary entry, not permanent status, and failure to enforce expiration dates can allow overstayers to remain unlawfully for years. When such individuals develop serious criminal records, the consequences of this lapse become severe. Nemiro’s situation demonstrates how targeted enforcement—based on verified violations and criminal history—can resolve long-standing immigration gaps, even in jurisdictions with sanctuary policies.
ICE’s action underscores that lawful immigration compliance requires consistent monitoring of visa expirations, interagency information sharing, and prioritizing removals for those who violate their legal status. Nemiro’s arrest serves as a clear example of the system functioning as intended: identifying and removing individuals who remain unlawfully after their permission to stay expires.
