ICE removes Honduran man wanted for murder
ATLANTA – A Honduran man unlawfully present in the United States, who is wanted for the murder of two men in his home country, was removed from the United States Monday by deportation officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
Francisco Escobar-Orellana is wanted in Honduras pursuant to a May 2005 arrest warrant for allegedly hacking two men to death with a machete at a liquor store in 1993. Mr. Escobar subsequently unlawfully entered the United States at an unknown time and place.
Mr. Escobar was arrested by ICE ERO deportation officers Feb. 21 morning near his Hope Mills, North Carolina, residence during a targeted enforcement operation in concert with ICE Homeland Security Investigations special agents. A federal immigration judge subsequently ordered Mr. Escobar removed from the United States March 23.
ERO Atlanta deportation officers transferred Mr. Escobar from the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, to the Columbus Metropolitan Airport where Mr. Escobar was then removed Monday via an ICE Air operations flight to San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Upon arrival, Mr. Escobar was transferred into Honduran law enforcement custody.
"ICE is focused on identifying, arresting and removing public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members, as well as individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws," said ERO Atlanta Field Office Director Sean Gallagher. “ICE Fugitive Operations Teams conduct targeted enforcement operations toward these identified threats to public safety. North Carolina residents are safer today thanks to the professionalism and hard work of these dedicated officers.”
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 the ICE online tip form.
ICE removed a total of 240,255 aliens in FY 2016, a two percent increase over FY 2015, but a 24 percent decrease from FY 2014. ICE continues to focus its enforcement resources on individuals who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security. However, as Secretary Kelly has made clear, ICE will no longer exempt entire classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement. All those in violation of immigration law may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States.
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