ICE San Antonio officers remove previously deported Guatemalan man who faces homicide charges in home country
SAN ANTONIO — A Guatemala man, who is wanted for homicide in his home country, was deported Wednesday by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Laredo.
Juan Figueroa-Martinez, 27, was flown to Guatemala Sept. 16 onboard a charter flight coordinated by ICE's Air Operations (IAO) Unit. Upon arrival, Figueroa-Martinez was turned over to officials Guatemalan authorities.
According to Guatemalan authorities, Figueroa-Martinez is the lead suspect in the rape of a 14-year-old child who subsequently died as a direct result of this crime. In June 2015 Figueroa-Martinez was confronted by the child's father in Guatemala, at which time Figueroa-Martinez fatally shot the victim's father with a rifle.
"Today's removal of Figueroa-Martinez reflects ERO's commitment not only to public safety in the United States but also abroad,” said San Antonio Field Office Director, Enrique M. Lucero. "His case should send a message to others like him, that the United States will not be used as a safe haven for those fleeing justice.”
Figueroa-Martinez was first removed to Guatemala March 9, 2013 from Newark, New Jersey after an immigration judge issued him a final order of removal. Two years later he returned illegally into the United States. He was arrested Aug. 17 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Office of Border Patrol near Falfurrias, Texas. He was transferred to ICE custody where he remained until his removal to Guatemala.
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 toll-free 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.
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