San Antonio ICE office deports record number of aliens so far in 2012

SAN ANTONIO — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers in the local field office deported a record number of aliens so far this fiscal year – more than 68,000 – with less than three months remaining in the year.

Of the more than 68,000 removals, 99 percent were within ICE's enforcement priorities: 37 percent convicted criminals, 33 percent repeat immigration violators or immigration fugitives, and 29 percent recent border entrants. Through smart and effective immigration enforcement, this administration remains committed to prioritizing immigration enforcement resources to target criminal aliens as well as those who threaten border security or the integrity of the immigration system.

"These record statistics show our officers are making effective enforcement decisions while adhering to our national priorities," said Enrique M. Lucero, field office director for ERO San Antonio. "Since many of our removals are criminal aliens, these stats also show our commitment to public safety. However, our success would not be possible without the close coordination of our local and federal counterparts." The San Antonio field office encompasses 54 counties in central and south Texas, including the cities of San Antonio, Austin, Waco, the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo and Del Rio.

In fiscal year 2011, ERO San Antonio removed 63,090 individuals, a 14 percent increase from the 55,124 aliens removed in 2010. Even with three months left in the fiscal year, ERO San Antonio's current 2012 stats reflect a seven percent increase from removals for all of fiscal year 2011. Historically, the San Antonio field office has led in the nation in removals in recent years.

Following are two egregious criminals wanted for homicide who were recently removed:

• Carlos Alberto Tobar-Guevara, 33, a citizen of El Salvador, was removed in July. Tobar-Guevara was returned to his home country after an Interpol arrest warrant indicated he was wanted for homicide and aggravated assault.
• Abraham Moreno-Gutierrez, 34, was turned over to Mexican law enforcement May 17. According to an Interpol arrest warrant issued in February 2010, he was wanted for homicide and family violence in China Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Moreno-Gutierrez was illegally living the U.S. until ERO arrested him Aug. 5, 2011.

Some other criminal aliens that ERO San Antonio removed include convictions for the following crimes: aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, sex offenses, homicides, indecency with children, numerous drug charges and human smuggling.