ICE deports El Salvadoran wanted for homicide and aggravated assault

SAN ANTONIO – A man from El Salvador, who is wanted in his home country for homicide and aggravated assault, was deported and turned over to El Salvadoran law enforcement officials Thursday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Carlos Alberto Tobar-Guevara, 33, was deported via U.S. government charter flight July 5. An Interpol arrest warrant was issued for Tobar-Guevara June 3, 2010 in connection with the homicide and aggravated assault of an El Salvadorian national.

Tobar-Guevara illegally entered the United States May 31 near Rio Grande City, Texas. U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Border Patrol agents apprehended him at that time. During routine processing June 2, CBP discovered that he was wanted in El Salvador for two egregious crimes. CBP transferred him to ERO custody where he remained until his removal July 5.

"ICE ensures that aliens do not escape justice in their home countries by seeking safe haven in the United States," said Enrique M. Lucero, ERO San Antonio field office director. "ICE's primary priority is to identify and remove aliens who pose a threat to our communities, which is a significant overall benefit to public safety."

ERO is focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that targets serious criminal aliens who present the greatest risk to the security of our communities, such as those charged with or convicted of homicide, rape, robbery, kidnapping, major drug offenses and threats to national security. ERO also prioritizes the arrest and removal of those who game the immigration system including immigration fugitives or those criminal aliens who have been previously deported and illegally re-entered the country.

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed about 455 foreign fugitives from the United States who were being sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder. ERO works with ICE's Office of International Affairs, foreign consular offices in the United States, and Interpol to identify foreign fugitives illegally present in the country.