ICE Houston officers deport Mexican national wanted for homicide
HOUSTON — A Mexican national wanted in his native country for premeditated homicide was deported Friday by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
Fidel Chan-Amador, aka El Chichi, 48, was turned over to Mexican authorities Jan. 22 at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge in Laredo.
“Removing foreign fugitives from the United States is an ICE priority,” said Stephen P. Boll, field office director of ERO Houston. “The cooperation between the United States and Mexican government resulted in this foreign fugitive being safely returned to his home country where he can stand trial for his alleged crimes.”
Chan-Amador was transferred from the U.S. Bureau of Prisons into ICE custody following a 10-year prison sentence for his conviction of importing marijuana with intent to distribute. ICE was notified of the Mexican warrant for premeditated murder Jan. 8.
Chan-Amador has previous convictions for human smuggling and illegally entering the U.S. He remained in ICE custody until his turnover to Mexican authorities.
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. Members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives are urged to contact ICE by calling the 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.
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.
Updated: