The immigration status of Rolbert Joachin, 40, a suspect accused of killing a gas station clerk in Fort Myers, becomes clearer following multiple contradicting statements over the last week from state and federal agencies.

Joachin, an immigrant from Haiti, was arrested for the murder of Nilufa Easmin, also known as "Yasmin," following a manhunt on April 2. Surveillance video shows what Fort Myers police say is Joachin beating Easmin to death with a hammer.

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Rolbert Joachin's Immigration Status Under Question

Following Joachin's arrest, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) put out a press release stating that he was in the country illegally on April 7.

"Today, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) assisted the Fort Myers Police Department (FMPD) in tracking down and arresting Rolbert Joachin, a Haitian illegal alien accused of bludgeoning an innocent mother to death with a hammer, hitting her several times in the head, at a gas station in Florida," DHS said in their release.

Joachin had his first in-person court date on Wednesday. During court proceedings, the State Attorney's Office testified that Joachin was not illegally in the country and that there was no ICE detainer on him.

On Wednesday, after their court appearance, Gulf Coast News reached out to the State Attorney's Office to clarify Joachin's status. After initially saying that they could not comment on his status due to his case being active, they said that he was, in fact, in the country illegally.

ICE News Conference Provides Clarity

On Friday, ICE held a press conference in Fort Myers regarding the homicide at the gas station, the crime for which Joachin is accused. During the conference, ICE said that he was first smuggled into the U.S. in August 2022 on a boat.

ICE added that he was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and was ordered to be removed from the country in September 2022. ICE said in their conference that he was not removed due to the "prior administration's policies."

Entering the U.S. illegally is considered a federal misdemeanor according to DHS, and anyone caught doing so is subject to a civil penalty between $50 and $250.

Joachin filed for and was granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in 2023, according to ICE in their news conference. He refiled for his TPS in 2024 and was still protected because no decision had been made yet on his renewal application, despite his status expiring; ICE added.

ICE said in the conference that Joachin underwent a vetting process both times he filed for TPS.

ICE also said that on Thursday, the Trump Administration stripped Joachin of his Temporary Protected Status. In their news release, ICE said that there was a detainer on him.

"ICE has lodged a detainer against Joachin, and he will be deported regardless of the outcome of the case," ICE said.

Trump also weighed in on the brutal attack in a post on Truth Social Thursday night.

What is Temporary Protected Status?

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is an immigration status designated by DHS. It's granted due to conditions in the country that temporarily prevent its nationals from returning safely, or when the country is unable to handle the return of its citizens adequately.

Haitian immigrants were granted TPS after Haiti was struck by a 7.0 magnitude Earthquake in 2010. This was granted to all Haitian nationals who were in the country as of Jan. 12, 2010.

In February, former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem determined that Haiti no longer met the conditions of TPS and its designation was slated to terminate on Feb. 3. Before this could happen, a federal judge in Washington, D.C. ruled against the decision. Haiti's TPS has been in a legal limbo since.

Timeline of Joachin Rolbert's Immigration Status

Here is a timeline of Joachin's time in the U.S. and his shifting immigration status:

• August 2022: Joachin is smuggled into the U.S. by boat
• September 2022: A federal judge orders Joachin's removal; he was not removed due to the "prior administration's policies."
• 2023: Joachin files for and is granted Temporary Protected Status
• 2024: Joachin's TPS expires; Joachin timely re-files for TPS. Because no one rules on his paperwork, Joachin is still under TPS
• April 2: Joachin is arrested, accused of the murder of gas station clerk Nilufa Easmin
• April 7: DHS, in a news release, says Joachin is here illegally, promises his removal from the country "regardless of the outcome of the case."
• April 8: State Attorney's Office testifies in court, says Joachin is here legally and that there is no ICE detainer on him
• State Attorney's Office tells Gulf Coast News that Joachin is in the U.S. illegally when asked for clarification on his immigration status
• April 10: ICE says that the Trump Administration has revoked Joachin's TPS.

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