Octavio Pisano is back on the set of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. The actor, who plays Detective Joe Velasco, is currently filming new scenes in New York City for Season 27. This return comes just a few months after his character left the Special Victims Unit to work undercover for the Drug Enforcement Administration in San Diego.
Pisano departed the long-running NBC drama as a series regular in October 2025. His character said goodbye to Sergeant Odafin Tutuola and Captain Olivia Benson in the third episode of the current season. Now, sources confirm Velasco is back in the city, and he is still working undercover.
Detective Velasco Left SVU for the DEA in Season 27 Episode 3
Velasco’s exit happened early in Season 27. He accepted a dangerous undercover position with the DEA targeting drug trafficking organizations on the West Coast. The decision was not easy for the detective, who had built strong ties with the squad, especially with Ice-T’s character, Fin Tutuola.
Before leaving, Velasco sought out Fin to personally thank him. It was a quiet moment between the two detectives that showed how much Velasco valued his time at SVU. The character grew up in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, an area known for cartel violence. He crossed the border at age 14 and eventually joined the NYPD, working deep undercover before transferring to the Special Victims Unit.
His background made him a natural fit for the DEA assignment. But the move also meant leaving behind Captain Benson and the team that helped him learn that police work is not just about stopping criminals, it is about following protocol and taking cases to court the right way.
Pisano Is Filming in New York Right Now Alongside Ice-T
Current photos from the set confirm Pisano is in New York filming. Ice-T shared a picture on X, formerly Twitter, with the caption, “Oh (expletive)! On location… NYC today…” The photo shows the two actors together on what appears to be a street location.
Fans quickly reacted to the post. Comments included “so glad to see this duo back,” “so excited for Octavio to be back,” and “have missed Velasco on the show.” The positive response highlights how popular the character became after joining the series in Season 23.
Pisano first appeared on SVU as a recurring guest in 2021. Within a month, producers promoted him to series regular. He also played Velasco in three crossover episodes on Law and Order: Organized Crime, working alongside Detective Reyes.
Velasco Is Working Undercover When He Returns to SVU
According to production sources, Velasco is still undercover when he returns to New York. This means his appearance will likely involve a case that connects his DEA work to the SVU team. The exact details of the episode or episodes are being kept quiet.
What is known is that Pisano is appearing in at least one episode. Some reports suggest he could be in more than one. IMDb currently lists Pisano as a cast member for the 18th episode of Season 27. NBC and the show’s producers have not confirmed the total number of appearances.
The return is being described as a guest stint. This means Pisano is not coming back as a full-time series regular. However, the door is clearly open for Velasco to appear whenever the story calls for it.
Pisano Left SVU Due to Budget Cuts, Not Creative Differences
When news broke in May 2025 that Pisano would be leaving SVU, reports pointed to budget cuts at NBC. Multiple shows across the network were reducing cast sizes and episode orders to manage costs ahead of renewal decisions.
Pisano was not the only actor to exit. Juliana Aidén Martinez, who played Detective Kate Silva, also left after Season 26. Unlike Pisano, Martinez has not returned to close out her character’s story. She recently joined the cast of FBI, another Dick Wolf series. Martinez told Us Weekly she would never say never to returning to SVU, calling her time on the show “a really wonderful experience.”
Kelli Giddish, who left the series in 2022, returned as a series regular at the start of Season 27. Her character, Sergeant Amanda Rollins, is now back with the squad full-time.
What Fans Can Expect From Velasco’s Return
Velasco’s return raises several questions. How did his DEA assignment go? Is he chasing a suspect who came to New York? Will Captain Benson approve of his methods now that he is operating outside the NYPD?
When Velasco first joined SVU, he struggled with the rules. He was used to working undercover, where results mattered more than procedures. Captain Benson helped him understand that victims need justice that holds up in court, not just criminals taken off the street.
Now that Velasco is back with the DEA, he may be operating in that gray area again. His return could put him at odds with his former colleagues, or it could give the SVU team a valuable inside source on a major case.
NBC and Peacock Streaming Information for Season 27
Law and Order: Special Victims Unit Season 27 airs Thursdays at 9:00 PM Eastern Time on NBC. New episodes become available to stream the next day on Peacock.
For viewers in the United Kingdom, the show is available on Sky Witness and NOW. Canadian audiences can watch on Citytv and stream on Peacock. In Australia, Channel 7 and 7plus carry the series. Indian viewers can watch on JioCinema. Global audiences in other regions can find episodes on Prime Video through the Apple TV app, Google Play, and YouTube TV depending on local licensing.
The series recently experienced a scheduling change. NBC pulled an episode titled Corrosive, originally set to air January 15, 2026, due to legal issues involving guest star Timothy Busfield. The network replaced it with Fidelis Ad Mortem. It is unclear if or when Corrosive will air.
The Current SVU Cast in Season 27
The current main cast for Season 27 includes:
- Mariska Hargitay as Captain Olivia Benson
- Ice-T as Sergeant Odafin Fin Tutuola
- Kelli Giddish as Sergeant Amanda Rollins
- Peter Scanavino as Assistant District Attorney Dominick Sonny Carisi Jr.
- Kevin Kane as Detective Terry Bruno
Aimé Donna Kelly plays Captain Renee Curry and was promoted to series regular this season. Christopher Meloni, BD Wong, and Dean Winters are all scheduled to guest star in upcoming episodes.
Also Read:
Pisano’s Work Outside of SVU
While Pisano is back on the SVU set, he has also been busy with his own projects. The actor made his feature directorial debut with Wet Under Blue Sky, a boxing drama he also wrote and stars in. The film marks a major step in his career behind the camera.
His ability to balance acting and directing shows his growth as a storyteller. Fans of Velasco can take comfort knowing that even though he is no longer a series regular, the character remains important to the Law and Order universe.
Stay up to date with more Law and Order news and exclusive entertainment coverage only on VvipTimes.
