U.S. immigration authorities have detained a 76-year-old Chilean national, identified as Armando Fernández Larios, who is wanted in Chile for alleged human rights violations committed during the Pinochet dictatorship and was previously convicted in the United States for his role in the 1976 assassination of former Chilean diplomat Orlando Letelier and his assistant, Ronni Moffitt.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials confirmed the detention of Fernández Larios, who had been living in the United States for nearly four decades. The agency reported his capture on January 27, as part of a broader operation that led to the detention of 41 other Chilean nationals. While the broader operation took place in October 2025, details about Fernández Larios’ specific arrest emerged later.
Fernández Larios was convicted in the U.S. in 1987 for his involvement in the 1976 car bombing in Washington D.C. that killed Letelier, a prominent critic of the Pinochet regime, and Moffitt, an American citizen. The assassination was part of Operation Condor, a coordinated effort by several South American dictatorships to eliminate political opponents.
In Chile, Fernández Larios faces multiple extradition requests from Chilean courts for alleged crimes committed during the military dictatorship (1973-1990). These include charges related to the torture and murder of political prisoners, and his alleged involvement in the disappearance of individuals. The Chilean press has expressed astonishment at his detention, given his long residency in the U.S. and previous legal protections.
Prior to his detention by ICE, Fernández Larios had reportedly been living under legal protection in the United States since 1987, a year after he fled Chile amid a judicial investigation into the Letelier assassination. Human rights lawyers have suggested that he may have provided significant information to U.S. authorities at that time.
The Letelier assassination case has a long and complex judicial history. In Chile, Judge Adolfo Bañados handed down convictions against key figures, including DINA chief Manuel Contreras and his second-in-command, Pedro Espinoza, in 1993. Fernández Larios’ role is described as captain in the Chilean army and a former agent of DINA, Pinochet’s secret police.
Further complicating the case, classified documents later revealed that Manuel Contreras was on the CIA’s payroll. The assassinations were carried out with financial, intelligence, and logistical support from the U.S. government, according to extensive investigations into Operation Condor.
The U.S. government’s request for extradition in the past has led to complicated legal proceedings. While some reports suggest that Fernández Larios was sought for his role in organizing the assassination and coordinating with Cuban exiles involved, other indictments have named him for spying on Letelier to time the attack. The details of his current legal status and the potential for deportation remain under review by U.S. immigration authorities.
The detention of Fernández Larios brings renewed attention to the human rights abuses of the Pinochet era and the long reach of justice for victims of state-sponsored political violence. His case highlights the ongoing efforts to hold accountable individuals implicated in serious crimes, even decades after their commission.
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