ERO Denver removes fugitive wanted for kidnapping and illegal imprisonment in Mexico

DENVER — Officers with Enforcement and Removal Operations Denver removed a fugitive wanted in Mexico Sept. 4.

Martin Manuel Camargo Castro, 42, is a citizen of Mexico who is wanted in Mexico for kidnapping and illegal imprisonment. Camargo was removed from Denver, Sept. 4 and transported via San Diego to the San Ysidro port of entry where he was turned over to Mexican authorities.

“This removal sends a clear message that if you’re wanted for crimes abroad you won’t be able to hide out in our communities,” said acting Denver Field Office Director Arthur J. Wilson, Jr. “I applaud our officers and partners both nationally and internationally that support our efforts in making sure these types of enforcement actions happen smoothly and without incident.”

Camargo was encountered by United States Border Patrol near Columbus, New Mexico, May 9, 2018, and was served with a with a notice and order of expedited removal for entering the United States without inspection by an immigration official.

On May 16, 2018, the U.S. District Court of New Mexico convicted Camargo of entry without inspection and his first removal from the United States was May 17, 2018.

At an unknown date and location Camargo returned to the United States without inspection by an immigration official.

ERO Denver was notified March 27 that Camargo may be living in the Boulder, Colorado area and is wanted by the government of Mexico for kidnapping and illegal imprisonment.

ERO Denver officers arrested Camargo April 30 in a targeted operation and issued him with a notice of intent for decision to reinstate prior order.

Camargo’s successful removal was made possible in part by ERO San Diego.

ERO officers make enforcement decisions on a case-by-case basis in responsible manner, informed by their experience as law enforcement professionals and in a way that best protects against the greatest threats to the homeland.

Noncitizens placed into removal proceedings receive their legal due process from federal immigration judges in the immigration courts, which are administered by the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. EOIR is an agency within the U.S. Department of Justice and is separate from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case. ICE officers carry out the removal decisions made by the federal immigration judges.

In fiscal year 2023, ERO arrested 73,822 noncitizens with criminal histories; this group had 290,178 associated charges and convictions with an average of four per individual. These included 33,209 assaults; 4,390 sex and sexual assaults; 7,520 weapons offenses; 1,713 charges or convictions for homicide; and 1,655 kidnapping offenses.

As one of ICE’s three operational directorates, ERO is the principal federal law enforcement authority in charge of domestic immigration enforcement. ERO’s mission is to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of U.S. communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws, and its primary areas of focus are interior enforcement operations, management of the agency’s detained and non-detained populations, and repatriation of noncitizens who have received final orders of removal. ERO’s workforce consists of more than 7,700 law enforcement and non-law enforcement support personnel across 25 domestic field offices and 208 locations nationwide, 30 overseas postings, and multiple temporary duty travel assignments along the border.

Members of the public can report crimes or suspicious activity by calling 866-347-2423 or completing ICE’s online tip form.

Learn more about ERO’s mission to increase public safety in your community on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ERODenver.