ICE Houston deports national of Spain wanted for drug trafficking
HOUSTON — A national of Spain, who is a convicted drug smuggler in the United States and is wanted for drug trafficking in his home country, was deported Wednesday by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
Pablo Antonio Moreno-Fernandez, 49, arrived in Madrid, Spain, March 19 under ICE escort and was turned over to Spanish authorities.
“Identifying and removing foreign fugitives from the United States is an ICE priority,” said Steven P. Boll, field office director of ERO Houston. “The cooperation between the United States and the government of Spain resulted in this foreign fugitive being safely returned to his home country where he will face justice.”
Moreno-Fernandez was encountered Jan. 24, 2011 after arriving in Houston from Nicaragua. During a secondary screening, officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) discovered 2.6 kilograms (5.7 pounds) of cocaine in his possession. This case was then referred to the Harris County (Texas) District Attorney’s office for prosecution. On April 13, 2011, after his conviction for smuggling cocaine, Moreno-Fernandez was sentenced to 10 years in prison with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
As a convicted felon and criminal alien, Moreno-Fernandez was charged July 11, 2013 with being inadmissible to the United States. On Aug. 27, 2013, a federal immigration judge ordered Moreno-Fernandez to be deported. Spain issued an INTERPOL notice Sept. 16, 2013 on Moreno-Fernandez for drug trafficking. He entered ICE custody March 6, 2015 pending his removal.
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.
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.
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