Cebu, Philippines – A 44-year-old American fugitive wanted in the United States for violent crime-related charges was arrested in Cebu by Philippine immigration operatives, according to authorities. The Bureau of Immigration said Kenneth Alan White was taken into custody on April 29 in a residential area in Danao City during a joint operation involving the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit, local police, and other law enforcement partners.
According to a Bureau of Immigration press release published on its official website, the operation was carried out as part of the government’s drive against foreign fugitives seeking refuge in the Philippines. The BI said White was arrested with support from U.S. authorities, the Philippine National Police, and local law enforcement units in Cebu.
Arrest in Danao City
Immigration authorities said White had been staying in the country as a temporary visitor after entering the Philippines in March 2025. However, BI records showed that he did not extend his stay beyond June 2025, which made him an overstaying foreign national. He was also tagged by the bureau as an undesirable alien.
The Bureau of Immigration said White was located and arrested in Danao City by members of its Fugitive Search Unit. The arrest forms part of ongoing efforts to track down foreign nationals facing criminal charges abroad and prevent them from using the Philippines as a hiding place.
Charges Faced in the United States
Authorities said White is wanted in Texas for charges that include threatening to publish intimate visual material and attempted aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The BI also said he has a prior felony aggravated assault conviction in Arizona.
The case drew attention because of the nature of the offenses linked to the suspect. Philippine immigration officials said the country will continue coordinating with international counterparts when dealing with fugitives who have pending criminal cases in their home countries.
Transfer and Deportation Proceedings
Following his arrest, White was placed under police custody in Danao City. He is expected to be transferred to the Bureau of Immigration’s Warden Facility in Manila, where deportation charges will be prepared against him.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the arrest reflects the government’s firm position against harboring foreign fugitives. He said the Philippines is not a refuge for individuals trying to escape prosecution overseas and stressed that immigration authorities will keep working closely with international agencies to locate and remove them.
The latest arrest highlights the Bureau of Immigration’s continued coordination with both Philippines and foreign law enforcement agencies in pursuing wanted individuals who attempt to cross borders to avoid justice.