ICE Philadelphia removes illegal alien wanted for murder to Ecuador

PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed Luis Gerardo Pelaez Llivichuzca, a citizen of Ecuador with a final order of removal wanted by his home country for murder, to Ecuador on March 25.

“The removal of Luis Gerardo Pelaez Llivichuzca reflects our stanch commitment to safeguarding public safety and enforcing the integrity of our immigration system,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Philadelphia acting Field Office Director Brian McShane. “ICE remains resolute in its efforts to identify, apprehend, and remove individuals who pose a threat to our communities.

The U.S. Border Patrol arrested Pelaez April 20, 2010, near Kots Kug, Arizona, for entering the United States without inspection or parole by an immigration official.

The Border Patrol served Pelaez a notice and order of expedited removal on April 22, 2010, charging inadmissibility and transferred him to ICE at the Florence Service Processing Center in Florence, Arizona. ICE transferred Pelaez May 29, 2010, to the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Jena, Louisiana, and removed him from the U.S. to Ecuador June 4, 2010.

Pelaez then re-entered the U.S. on an unknown date and at an unknown location without inspection or parole by an immigration official.

Authorities in Ecuador issued an arrest warrant for murder for Pelaez May 31, 2018.

ICE arrested Pelaez during a targeted enforcement action in New York Feb. 11, and served him a notice of intent and decision to reinstate a prior order charging removability.

ICE transferred Pelaez to the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, Feb. 12, where he remained pending removal proceedings.

Members of the public with information can report crimes or suspicious activity by dialing the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

Learn more about ICE Philadelphia’s mission to increase public safety in our Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia communities on X: @EROPhiladelphia