ERO New York City arrests unlawfully present Guatemalan fugitive wanted in home country for aggravated rape
NEW YORK — Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) New York City arrested Alejandro Pixtun-Hernandez, a 56-year-old international fugitive wanted in Guatemala for aggravated rape in a continuous manner and with special aggravating circumstances Aug. 10. The previously removed noncitizen is also the subject of an Interpol Red Notice for the same crime.
“The arrest of this individual is reflective of our ongoing commitment to prioritize enforcement and removal efforts against unlawfully present noncitizens who pose a threat to public safety,” said ERO New York City Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo. “Our targeted immigration enforcement efforts ensure safer communities for our fellow citizens by apprehending dangerous criminals — especially those who mistakenly believe fleeing to the United States will help them evade justice in their home country.”
On March 24, 2014, Guatemalan officials issued an arrest warrant for Pixtun for aggravated rape in a continuous manner and with special aggravating circumstances.
The U.S. Border Patrol arrested Pixtun on Oct. 9, 2014, near Falfurrias, Texas, after he unlawfully entered the United States. Authorities served him with a notice and order of expedited removal. ERO subsequently removed him to Guatemala on Oct 14. On an unknown date and at an unknown location, Pixtun unlawfully reentered the United States.
On Nov. 18, 2021, Interpol issued a Red Notice indicating Pixtun was wanted by authorities in Guatemala for aggravated rape in a continuous manner and with special aggravating circumstances.
ERO New York City arrested Pixtun without incident, Aug. 10, 2023. He will remain in custody without bond pending removal to Guatemala.
Interpol is the international criminal police organization that supports law enforcement authorities worldwide to share and access data on crimes and criminals. An Interpol Red Notice serves as an international wanted notice and provides information on the identification of fugitives charged with or convicted of serious crimes who have fled prosecution or the serving of their sentence.
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). 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. ERO officers carry out the removal decisions made by the federal immigration judges.
As one of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) 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.
In fiscal year 2022, ERO arrested 46,396 noncitizens with criminal histories. This group had 198,498 associated charges and convictions, including 21,531 assault offenses; 8,164 sex and sexual assault offenses; 5,554 weapons offenses; 1,501 homicide-related offenses; and 1,114 kidnapping offenses.
Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-347-2423 or completing ICE’s online tip form.
Learn more about ERO New York City’s mission to preserve public safety on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ERONewYork.
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