ICE removes 6-time deported gang member with violent criminal history to Mexico
The removal marks the third time in 10 days that ICE deported a criminal alien or gang member from the Houston area who illegally entered the US at least 6 times.
HOUSTON – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has removed a transnational gang member or criminal alien from the Houston area who illegally entered the United States at least six times, for the third time in 10 days.
ICE removed Francisco Lopez Melendez, a 32-year-old Mexican national and Suenos-13 gang member, from the U.S. Feb. 19. Melendez has been removed from the U.S. six times and was previously deported to Mexico in November 2013, May 2015, May 2018, October 2018, and November 2019. Melendez has been convicted of numerous criminal offenses while in the U.S. illegally, including three times for failure to give identification or providing law enforcement with fictitious information, twice for drug possession and illegal entry, and once for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, stolen property, burglary, driving while intoxicated and evading arrest.
ICE previously removed Jesus Alvarez Sinecio, a 32-year-old Mexican national deported six times, Feb. 10, and Humberto Romero Avila, a 45-year-old Paisas gang member and foreign fugitive who illegally entered the U.S. 10 times, Feb. 13. Romero was wanted in Mexico for allegedly murdering a 22-year-old Mexican national in 2007 and was convicted four times for DWI and once for larceny, illegal entry and illegal reentry. Alvarez had prior criminal convictions for aggravated assault of a family member, alien in possession of a firearm, DWI, illegal entry and illegal re-entry.
“In recent years, some of the world’s most dangerous fugitives, transnational gang members and criminal aliens have taken advantage of the crisis at our nation’s southern border to illegally enter the U.S.,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston Field Office Director Bret Bradford. “After making it into the country, these violent criminal aliens have infiltrated our local communities and reigned terror on law-abiding residents. Fueled by our unwavering commitment to protect the public from harm, and united in our determination to reestablish sovereignty over our southern border, the law enforcement community in Texas has banded together to remove these dangerous criminals from our country and restore law and order in our communities.”
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