ERO El Paso removes Mexican national wanted for organized crime in his home country
24-year-old was allegedly involved in the 2019 massacre of 9 US citizens in Sonora, Mexico
EL PASO, Texas – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) El Paso deportation officers on Oct. 13 removed an unlawfully present Mexican national wanted in his home country for organized crime.
Gustavo Ivan Hernandez-Cabral, 24, who had a final order of removal, was turned over to Mexican authorities at the international boundary in downtown El Paso.
He is wanted in Mexico for organized crime and his alleged involvement in the 2019 murders of the Lebaron, Miller, Johnson and Langford family members in Sonora, Mexico.
On July 15, Hernandez-Cabral illegally entered the United States in Santa Teresa, New Mexico. U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered and placed him under arrest. Agents processed him for voluntary return and repatriated him to Mexico through the Santa Teresa Port of Entry in Santa Teresa, New Mexico.
On July 17 and again on July 26, Hernandez-Cabral illegally entered the United States in Santa Teresa. Border Patrol agents encountered and arrested him both times, and again processed him for voluntary return and repatriated him to Mexico.
Most recently, on Aug.15, Hernandez-Cabral illegally entered again for the fourth time in as many weeks, also in Santa Teresa.
About two months ago, Homeland Security Investigations El Paso received information that Hernandez-Cabral was illegally residing in Albuquerque, New Mexico. On Sept. 4, ERO El Paso, Albuquerque sub-office, deportation officers, with the assistance of HSI special agents, arrested Hernandez-Cabral at a motel in Albuquerque. The arrest was the result of an HSI El Paso and ERO El Paso joint investigation. Border Patrol agents assisted with the arrest.
ERO El Paso officers issued Hernandez-Cabral a notice to appear and charged him with illegal entry.
On Sept. 8, the U.S. District Court in the District of New Mexico convicted Hernandez-Cabral of illegal entry and sentenced him to five days confinement, which was time served. The U.S. Marshal’s Service took custody of him and turned him over to ERO El Paso and he was detained at the El Paso Processing Center.
On Oct. 4, an immigration judge ordered Hernandez-Cabral removed from the United States to Mexico.
“This dangerous fugitive, wanted for the massacre of innocent women and children, is back in Mexico thanks to the resourceful efforts of ERO deportation officers collaborating with HSI special agents,” said ERO El Paso Field Office Director De Anda-Ybarra. “Anyone who believes they can seek refuge in the United States to shield themselves from authorities in their home country is sadly mistaken. ERO officers are committed to enforcing our nation’s immigration laws in the interest of public safety.”
“This case is a compelling example of what HSI’s strong partnerships with other law enforcement agencies can accomplish,” said HSI El Paso Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola. “What began as intelligence gathering by HSI and special agents working jointly with ERO officers, led to the removal of an alleged criminal who posed a significant danger to the community.”
Noncitizens placed into removal proceedings receive their legal due process from federal immigration judges in the immigration courts, which are administered by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). EOIR is an agency within the U.S. Department of Justice and is separate from the Department of Homeland Security and ICE. 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.
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 crime and suspicious activity by calling 866-347-2423 or completing the online tip form.
For more updates on noncitizens being removed from the community in the interest of public safety, follow ERO El Paso on X, formerly known as Twitter, @EROElPaso.
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