ERO St. Paul removes foreign fugitive wanted in Mexico for robbery
ST. PAUL, Minn. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) St. Paul Field Office removed an unlawfully present noncitizen foreign fugitive wanted in Mexico for robbery on July 12.
ERO officers escorted Saul Ceniceros Santoyo, 27, from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport to Laredo International Airport in Laredo, Texas, on July 11. Ceniceros was then transported to the Laredo, Texas, port of entry where he was removed from the United States and transferred to Mexican authorities on July 12.
“Removing potentially dangerous foreign fugitives from our communities is an important part of maintaining public safety,” said ERO St. Paul Field Office Director Peter Berg. “ERO St. Paul will continue to pursue dangerous individuals and organizations who infringe on our public safety.”
On Nov. 20, 2019, ERO St. Paul encountered Ceniceros at the Hennepin County Jail in Minneapolis, Minnesota, pending charges for domestic assault and threats of violence, and lodged an immigration detainer. ERO St. Paul arrested Ceniceros upon his release from Hennepin County and served him a notice to appear for immigration proceedings. On Dec. 19, 2019, an immigration judge with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review issued Ceniceros a final order of removal to Mexico.
On Dec. 24, 2019, ERO removed Ceniceros to Mexico.
On Nov. 17, 2020, USBP encountered Ceniceros near Hebbronville, Texas, and removed him to Mexico on the same date. He later returned to the United States at an unknown date and location.
On Nov. 4, 2022, Hennepin County District Court, Minneapolis, Minnesota, convicted Ceniceros of two counts of domestic abuse no contact order and sentenced him to 90 days incarceration for each count. On Feb. 7, 2023, ERO St. Paul encountered Ceniceros at the Hennepin County Jail following his arrest on DUI charges, and he was referred to the ERO St. Paul Fugitive Operations Team for possible enforcement action. On May 5, the ERO St. Paul Fugitive Operations Team arrested Ceniceros during a targeted enforcement operation and learned of his outstanding warrant in Mexico for robbery.
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.
The ERO St. Paul Field Office oversees suboffices in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska.
As one of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) three operational directorates, Enforcement and Removal Operations (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 and/or suspicious activity by dialing 866-347-2423 or completing the online tip form.
To learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in your community, follow @EROSaintPaul.
Updated: