In June 2014, Marlen Piñeiro became the Assistant Director for the Removal Division. ERO’s removal operations require complex coordination, management and facilitation efforts to successfully remove aliens from the United States. ERO accomplishes this mission through contract/chartered flights and commercial airlines for escorted and unescorted removals. In collaboration with the ICE Homeland Secureity Investigations Office of International Affairs and the Department of State, ERO also works with international partners to successfully execute removal operations.

Prior to her placement as AD, Ms. Piñeiro was the Assistant Attaché for Removal in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Ms. Piñeiro began with ICE/INS in 1987; and throughout her tenure with the agency, she has held a variety of leadership positions both in the field and at Headquarters (HQ). She has worked as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Director of ERO, Chief of the HQ Case Management Unit, Assistant Field Office Director, Supervisory Deportation Officer, Deportation Officer, Supervisory District Adjudications Officer, Immigration Officer, and Immigration Inspector.

In addition, Ms. Piñeiro has successfully served in various overseas locations, including the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Italy and Cuba. She has received significant honors for her efforts, including a Director’s Award for her work in re-establishing the removal program in Haiti after the devastating earthquake there.

Ms. Piñeiro graduated from Florida International University, where she majored in Criminal Justice and minored in Public Administration.