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March 5, 2015Chicago, IL, United StatesEnforcement and Removal

ICE Chicago office deports Canadian national wanted for crimes in Québec

CHICAGO — A Canadian national wanted for crimes committed in Québec was deported Wednesday and turned over to Canadian law enforcement authorities to face criminal charges there.

This deportation was conducted by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Chicago and Detroit.

Alain Painchaud, 46, of Sasseville, Québec, was repatriated to Canada via ground transportation from Chicago and turned over to the custody of Canadian authorities at the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.

The Judicial District of Québec issued an arrest warrant Dec. 5 for Painchaud for the following charges: obstructing a border officer, failing to comply, illegally storing firearms, making false statements, importing prohibited weapons, and illegally possessing and importing drugs.

Painchaud was encountered Nov. 24, 2014 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) after arriving at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport with a fraudulent passport. He was detained by CBP and turned over to ICE custody on administrative immigration charges. He remained in ICE custody until his removal to Canada Wednesday.

"The arrest and removal of criminal aliens is our utmost priority," said ERO Chicago Field Office Director Ricardo Wong. "ICE will continue to work closely with our foreign counterparts to promote public safety and hold international fugitives accountable.”

In fiscal year 2014, ERO removed 315,943 individuals from the United States. In addition to convicted criminals, the agency's enforcement priorities include those apprehended while attempting to unlawfully enter the United States, illegal re-entrants — individuals who returned to the United States after being previously removed by ICE — and immigration fugitives. In fiscal year 2014, 98 percent of ICE removals met these priorities.

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