ICE deports man wanted for murder in Mexico

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A citizen of Mexico, who illegally re-entered the United States after being deported and is wanted in his native country on murder charges, was removed Oct. 16 by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Officers with ERO's Fugitive Operations Team arrested Felipe Campos-Gonzalez, 29, without incident July 15 at a residence in Grand Rapids. Campos-Gonzalez initially provided ERO officers with false identification before a biometric search of his fingerprints revealed his true identity and fugitive status in Mexico.

According to court documents, Campos-Gonzalez is wanted for a 2009 murder in Aguascalientes, Mexico. He was turned over to Mexican authorities Oct. 16 to answer to the murder charge.

Campos-Gonzalez illegally re-entered the United States after ICE removed him in 2008.

"Those who evade the law in another country cannot come to hide in our communities," said Rebecca Adducci, field office director for ERO Detroit. "ICE works closely with foreign law enforcement partners to ensure those who are wanted for crimes in their country, and are here illegally, will be removed and held accountable for their actions."

The removal of Campos-Gonzalez demonstrates the expanded bi-national cooperation to identify, arrest and repatriate Mexican fugitives who have fled to the United States to avoid prosecution. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Mexico works closely with the Mexican government as part of this effort. Many of the arrested individuals are charged with committing homicide or other violent crimes in Mexico.

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 646 foreign fugitives from the United States who were wanted in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder. ERO works with the HSI Office of International Affairs, foreign consular offices in the United States and Interpol to identify foreign fugitives illegally present in the country.