A British citizen, John O’Rourke, also known as John Casey, has been charged with illegally reentering the United States after being deported, federal officials announced on Apr. 8.
O’Rourke, age 27 and a citizen of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector in New Haven and was ordered detained pending further proceedings. The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address illegal reentry cases involving individuals previously removed from the country.
According to court documents and statements made in court, O’Rourke has used several aliases including “John O’Rouke,” “Michael Casey,” “John Joyce,” “Robert Davanzo,” “David Collins,” and “James McCormack.” On October 7, 2024, U.S. Border Patrol apprehended him under an alias near Fort Covington, New York—close to the Canadian border—alongside four others. Investigators determined he did not have legal status in the U.S., leading to his removal by foot from New York to Canada on October 15 of that year.
It is further alleged that on February 18, 2025, O’Rourke was arrested under another name in Bridgeport, Connecticut for state offenses such as evading responsibility and breach of peace. Authorities say he has pending cases from arrests under various names in Suffolk County (New York), Everett (Washington), Linden (New Jersey), Snohomish County (Washington), as well as a larceny warrant issued by a Connecticut Superior Court judge in Danbury. He is also reportedly sought by law enforcement in Surrey, England.
O’Rourke was most recently arrested on March 2, 2026 in Pleasonton, California based on an arrest warrant from Torrington, Connecticut charging him with larceny in the first degree and related offenses concerning home improvement certification and impersonation of a registered contractor. He has remained detained since his arrest.
If convicted of unlawful reentry into the United States following deportation or removal proceedings for an aggravated felony conviction or other grounds specified by law he faces up to two years imprisonment.
U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan said: “A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Charges are only allegations and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” The matter continues to be investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel.
This case forms part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide Department of Justice initiative focused on combating illegal immigration along with targeting cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
