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March 16, 2023St. Paul, MN, United StatesEnforcement and Removal

ERO St. Paul removes foreign fugitive wanted in Guatemala for homicide

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) St. Paul removed an unlawfully present noncitizen foreign fugitive wanted in Guatemala for homicide on March 15.

On March 8, a flight coordinated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Air Operations Unit flew Erick Gomez-Gomez, 33, of Guatemala, from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to Alexandria International Airport, Louisiana. On March 15, Gomez-Gomez was flown from Louisiana to Guatemala City, Guatemala, and handed over to Guatemalan authorities.

“Fugitives who attempt to evade their home country’s judicial system will not find refuge in Minnesota,” said ERO St. Paul Field Office Director Peter Berg. “ERO St. Paul will continue to collaborate with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to pursue dangerous individuals and organizations, especially those wanted for egregious crimes such as homicide.”

Gomez-Gomez illegally entered the U.S. without inspection on an unknown date, at an unknown location.

Officials arrested Gomez-Gomez on Nov. 30, 2022, in Burnsville for driving without a license, failure to signal for turn and displaying a license plate. Arresting authorities booked him into the Dakota County Jail. ERO St. Paul subsequently served Gomez-Gomez a notice to appear for immigration proceedings.

On Dec. 21, ERO St. Paul confirmed Gomez-Gomez was wanted by Guatemalan law enforcement authorities for homicide. On Jan. 11, the ERO St. Paul Fugitive Operations Team arrested him and booked him into the Kandiyohi County Jail without bond pending removal proceedings. On Jan. 19, an immigration judge with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review issued a final order of removal for Gomez-Gomez.

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

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.

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 dialing 866-347-2423 or completing the online tip form.

Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in your community on Twitter @EROSaintPaul. The ERO St. Paul field office oversees suboffices in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska.

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