ICE deports Mexican citizen wanted for rape

BUFFALO, N.Y. — A Mexican national wanted in his home country for rape was deported Friday by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Sergio Gallardo-Sanchez, 33, was escorted by ERO officers to the Brownsville Port of Entry in Texas and turned over to Mexican law-enforcement authorities early Friday.

"Identifying and removing criminal aliens from the United States is ERO's highest priority," said Michael Phillips, field office director of ERO Buffalo. "We will continue to utilize our unique immigration enforcement authorities to safeguard our communities from criminal aliens and others who pose a public-safety threat."

Gallardo-Sanchez was taken into ICE custody June 10, on an outstanding removal order from an immigration judge, after serving time in New York state prison on assault charges. He was turned over to Mexican authorities without incident, where he will now answer to the rape allegations.

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 720 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.