Mexican murder suspect indicted for illegally re-entering US
DETROIT – A Mexican murder suspect previously removed from the United States in 2008 was indicted on federal charges Wednesday for illegally re-entering the country following a prior removal. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested the man July 15 in Grand Rapids.
According to court documents, Felipe Campos-Gonzalez, 29, is wanted by Mexican authorities in connection with a murder investigation in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Campos-Gonzalez was convicted of illegally crossing the Texas border in November 2008. He was deported in December 2008.
If convicted of the current illegal re-entry charge, Campos-Gonzalez could face up to two years in federal prison followed by removal to Mexico. Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Daniels is prosecuting the case in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, Southern Division.
"This case is an excellent example of ICE prioritizing its enforcement efforts to identify and detain violent criminals and egregious immigration law violators who pose the greatest threat to public safety," said Mark Pilat, acting field office director of ERO Detroit. Pilat oversees ERO activities in Michigan and Ohio.
In fiscal year 2012, ERO removed 409,849 individuals. Of these, approximately 55 percent, or 225,390 of the people removed, were convicted of felonies or misdemeanors – almost double the removal of criminals in fiscal year 2008.
This figure includes 1,215 aliens convicted of homicide, 5,557 aliens convicted of sexual offenses, 40,448 aliens convicted for crimes involving drugs and 36,166 aliens convicted for driving under the influence. ICE continues to make progress with regard to other categories prioritized for removal. Some 96 percent of all ICE's removals fell into a priority category – a record high.
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