ICE San Antonio officers remove twice-deported Mexican man who is facing homicide charges
SAN ANTONIO — A Mexican man, who is wanted in his native country for aggravated homicide, was deported Thursday by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
Roman Tepozotlan-Mendoza, 50, was turned over to Mexican authorities Dec. 17 at the Lincoln Juarez Bridge in Laredo.
"Today's removal of Tepozotlan-Mendoza reflects ERO's commitment to public safety in the United States and 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.”
Tepozotlan-Mendoza was first removed to Mexico May 2, 2008 from El Dorado, Arkansas, after an immigration judge issued him a final order of removal. Four years later, he illegally re-entered the United States and was arrested Feb. 12, 2012 by Mesquite Police Department in Texas on criminal charges. He was turned over to ICE and removed to Mexico Feb. 25, 2012.
Three years later, Tepozotlan-Mendoza again illegally re-entered the United States and was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Border Patrol near Del Rio, Texas, on Oct. 30, 2015. He was prosecuted for re-entry after deportation and sentenced to serve 60 days. After he completed his sentence, he was transferred to ICE custody where he remained until his removal to Mexico Dec. 17.
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.
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