Immigration officials have recently confirmed the deportation of an illegal immigrant linked to a tragic case from 1994—the brutal killing of a 16-year-old boy on the steps of a church in Philadelphia.
According to the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Philadelphia, Vu Katabong was sent back to Laos on September 2 after a lengthy legal process.
Katabong, who held both Laotian and Thai citizenship but was undocumented, was found guilty of being complicit in the death of Eddie Polek, a high school student who was attacked by a group of teens in Philadelphia’s Fox Chase neighborhood in 1996.
He received a prison sentence of between five to ten years.
Polek was reportedly struck with a baseball bat and other weapons while he lay defenseless on the steps of St. Cecilia’s Church. Despite calls for help, the assault continued until his death.
ICE noted that Katabong was arrested on November 11, 1994, facing charges that included two counts of murder, possession of criminal tools, and conspiracy.
Nearly two years later, he was convicted on conspiracy charges.
A month post-conviction, the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) had placed an immigration detainer against Katabong at a correctional facility in Philadelphia.
On September 1, 1998, INS classified him as an aggravated felon under the Immigration and Nationality Act and issued a notice for him to appear before an immigration judge.
In December 2004, an immigration judge in York ordered Katabong’s extradition to Laos, but he was released on supervision in 2005.
Ultimately, he was deported in September.
“We sincerely hope that the removal of Vu Katabong aids Eddie Polek’s family and the broader Philadelphia community in moving on from one of the city’s most horrific crimes,” stated David O’Neill, the acting director of ICE ERO’s Philadelphia office.
ICE emphasized that this deportation is a result of ongoing efforts by its Philadelphia division to enforce immigration laws and bolster public safety.
