ICE deports Canadian man wanted for kidnapping and sexual assault with a dangerous weapon

DENVER — A previously deported Canadian man, wanted for kidnapping and sexual assault with a dangerous weapon in Toronto, Canada, was again deported Monday by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Raymond Laurence Burke, 62, was escorted by ERO officers to Denver International Airport and on to Toronto, Canada. He was then transferred to Canadian authorities at the Toronto Pearson International Airport Authority. The outstanding warrant was issued after an alleged kidnapping and sexual assault with a dangerous weapon that occurred Oct. 24, 1986 in the York district of Toronto.

Burke, who was previously deported in 1985, was recently released by the Colorado Department of Corrections after serving time for second-degree kidnapping, aggravated robbery and third-degree assault.

Burke has a lengthy criminal conviction history dating back to 1970 which includes breaking and entering, robbery, escape from custody, attempted rape, and vehicle theft.

This removal was part of ERO’s Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement (SAFE) Initiative. The SAFE Initiative is geared toward the identification of foreign fugitives who are wanted abroad and removable under U.S. immigration law. SAFE aligns with ERO’s public safety priorities and eliminates the need for formal extradition requests.

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 1,150 foreign fugitives from the United States who were sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder. ERO works with the ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Office of International Operations, foreign consular offices in the United States, and Interpol to identify foreign fugitives illegally present in the United States.

ERO coordinates the removal of criminals, foreign fugitives and others ordered deported. Last year alone, ERO removed 315,943 individuals from the United States. ICE is focused on smart and effective immigration enforcement that prioritizes its resources based on those who pose the biggest threat to national security, border security and public safety. ICE’s civil enforcement efforts are based on priorities set by the Secretary of Homeland Security in November 2014.  

Members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives are urged to contact ICE by calling the toll-free ICE tip line at 1 (866) 347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also file a tip online by completing ICE’s online tip form.