ICE removes Mexican homicide, torture suspect

NOGALES, Ariz. – A Mexican man wanted in his native country on murder and torture charges was turned over to Mexican law enforcement authorities at the Dennis DeConcini port of entry Friday by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Jesus Ortiz-Tun, 38, was turned over to Mexican federal police by ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers.

Ortiz-Tun is the subject of a criminal arrest warrant issued in February 2010 by Mexican law enforcement authorities, charging him with torture, a barbarous act and injury causing death, manslaughter and murder.

"This man mistakenly thought he could evade justice in Mexico by hiding in Arizona," said Jon Gurule, acting field office director for ERO Phoenix. "As this case makes clear, ICE works closely with law enforcement agencies here and abroad to protect public safety and hold those accused of crimes accountable for their actions."

Ortiz-Tun illegally entered the U.S. in 2010 and came into ERO custody following an encounter with Phoenix police on May 22. ERO placed Ortiz-Tun in immigration detention in Florence while his immigration case was pending. During his immigration screening, ERO discovered Ortiz-Tun was the subject of an outstanding Mexican arrest warrant and alerted Mexican authorities that he was in U.S. custody.

On June 17, an immigration judge granted Ortiz-Tun voluntary departure under safeguards, and ERO coordinated his removal with Mexican authorities to enable them to take custody of him at the Nogales port of entry Friday.

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 566 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 Homeland Security Investigations' Office of International Affairs, foreign consular offices in the United States and Interpol to identify foreign fugitives illegally present in the country.