ICE deports aggravated murder suspect wanted in Mexico

LAREDO, Texas - A man who fled to the United States after allegedly committing aggravated murder in Mexico was deported on Monday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Juan Jose Rivera-Moreno, 31, a Mexican national, was escorted by ERO's Special Response Team (SRT) to the Lincoln Juarez International Bridge, in Laredo, Texas, on Feb. 7. He was taken into custody by officials with the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic of Mexico (PGR).

The investigation was initiated after information was provided by the ICE Attaché Office in Mexico regarding Rivera-Moreno's whereabouts. On May 10, 2010, the Procuraduría General de Justicia in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, issued an arrest warrant for Rivera-Moreno, charging him with aggravated murder.

On Jan. 6, Rivera-Moreno was encountered in Laredo, Texas by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol for entering the country without inspection. CBP presented the re-entry case to the U. S. Attorney's Office Southern District of Texas for prosecution. On Jan. 10, a federal judge sentenced Rivera-Moreno to 30 days in federal prison. He was turned over to the U.S. Marshals and taken to the LaSalle County Regional Detention Center in Encinal, Texas, where he served his sentence.

"The United States will not be a haven for individuals seeking refuge for crimes committed in their home country," said Michael J. Pitts, field office director of ICE ERO in San Antonio. "ICE works closely with our international law enforcement partners to identify, locate and deport aliens who are wanted in their home countries."

His removal was coordinated with ICE's Office of International Affairs, the ICE Attaché Office in Mexico and the San Antonio ICE Office of Chief Counsel.