ICE San Diego arrests Mexican national with extensive criminal history after erroneous release

SAN DIEGO — On May 7, Enforcement and Removal Operations San Diego arrested Humberto Lopez, 50, a citizen of Mexico. Lopez was previously in custody at the San Diego County jail on assault with a deadly weapon charge. Despite an active federal arrest warrant, the San Diego County Sherriff’s office released Lopez without notifying ICE, the warrant-issuing agency.

This arrest exemplifies how SB 54 continues to foster an environment where local agencies hesitate to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, even when legally required. Such legislation forces ICE to operate within communities in ways that inherently increase risks to officers, as it forces ICE to pursue individuals in unpredictable and potentially unsafe situations rather than through secure custodial exchange.

Lopez has a lengthy criminal history, including convictions for assault with a deadly weapon, narcotics trafficking, robbery, and theft. Lopez subsequently re-entered the U.S. illegally, posing a danger to the community and continuing to violate U.S. laws. ERO San Diego served Lopez with a notice of intent to reinstate his prior removal order, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office accepted the case for prosecution. He will be turned over to U.S. Marshals' custody pending arraignment.

Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in San Diego on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @EROSanDiego