ICE, Interpol identify 3 wanted Guatemalan foreign fugitives
Rape, homicide, domestic violence among the charges
GUATEMALA CITY – Three foreign fugitives wanted by the Guatemalan government were identified by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) personnel working for the ICE Attaché Office in Guatemala and Interpol officials.
In less than one week, ERO and Interpol Guatemala identified three men – Marcos Najera Perez, Roberto Agustin Mendoza and Hugo Jose Eguizabal Garcia – wanted by Guatemalan authorities for separate incidents involving aggravated rape, domestic violence, criminal threats and homicide. All three were unlawfully present in the U.S. and an immigration judge ordered their removal. ERO removed all three from the U.S. within days of each other. The most recent removal took place Tuesday.
According to Interpol, Najera, who was removed Tuesday, is wanted in connection with a 2013 incident involving domestic violence and criminal threats. Najera illegally entered the U.S. May 6. As an illegal re-entrant, he was subject to immediate removal.
In a separate case, according to police records, Agustin allegedly raped a 20-year-old woman. Guatemalan authorities issued a warrant for his arrest in 2011. ERO officials in Ohio identified him after he was arrested in December 2014 for driving under the influence and aggravated burglary. ERO removed him June 17.
ERO removed Eguizabal June 15. According to Guatemalan officials, Eguizabal is charged with homicide and illegal possession of a firearm. He was taken into ICE custody May 20 after serving 30 days imprisonment for illegal re-entry after removal.
“The U.S. will not be used as a safe haven by criminals fleeing justice,” said Assistant Attaché for Repatriation in Guatemala Mark Aguirre. “We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that men like these have to account for their alleged actions.”
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.
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