Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently apprehended a woman linked to a Romanian theft ring, which allegedly engaged in organized retail theft and fraud, purportedly to support sick children.
Clara Badanak, a 55-year-old illegal immigrant from Romania, was detained by ICE agents in Wrenchham, Massachusetts. Reports indicate that Badanak is part of a Romanian theft organization.
Badanak is currently in ICE custody and is set for deportation from the United States.
Alongside Badanak’s arrest, ICE officials have revealed multiple arrests in Massachusetts involving a group of illegal Romanian women accused of systematic robbery and theft against Americans.
On July 29, ICE agents arrested three illegal aliens from Dedham, Massachusetts.
- Mihaela Ion, an illegal immigrant with a criminal background.
- Mirabela Caldararu, also an illegal alien, has an alarming criminal record.
- Flavia Gabriella Caldar, an illegal alien with a history of conspiracy to enter illegally and evading police.
ICE agents have also filed charges against three other illegal immigrants connected to the theft operation.
- Jajela Chiciu, an illegal immigrant charged with conspiracy and multiple thefts, involving five notable crimes of stealing property valued under $1,500.
- Emilia Sardal, an illegal immigrant with prior offenses.
- Elizabeth Sardal, that includes first-degree robbery, conspiracy, and theft across several jurisdictions.
Six Romanian illegal immigrants now face charges that encompass felonies, conspiracy, and theft, with some women already having arrests in other states.
“This robbery ring will no longer be able to exploit American citizens,” stated Tricia McLaughlin from the Department of Homeland Security. “These criminals should have never been able to walk freely in Massachusetts, stealing from Americans.”
In May, President Donald Trump removed Romania from the federal Visa Waiver Program (VWP) due to national security issues. The VWP enables citizens from certain countries to enter the United States without a visa for up to 90 days.
Countries in the VWP must have an overstay rate below 3%. While Romania’s overstay rate was 2.61% in 2024, it reached nearly 9% in 2023, close to 13% in 2022, and over 17% in 2021.
Reports have indicated that the VWP has been exploited by foreign robbery gangs to gain visa-free access to the U.S. to target affluent Americans.
