ICE removes man sought for homicide in Tijuana
SAN DIEGO – A Mexican national wanted in his native country for a homicide committed five years ago has been turned over to Mexican law enforcement officials by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.
Jose Gonzalez-Avila, 22, formerly of Escondido, was transferred to the custody of Mexican authorities Sept. 29 by San Diego-based officers from the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Special Response Team. Gonzalez-Avila is charged in a Mexican arrest warrant issued Oct. 1, 2012, for a homicide that occurred July 19, 2012, in Guanajuato, Mexico.
According to Mexican law enforcement officials, Gonzalez-Avila is one of three men identified as suspects in the homicide. One of the suspects allegedly grabbed the victim by the neck. Then, Gonzalez-Avila is accused of using a small chrome revolver to fire two shots at the victim’s abdomen and a third shot in the victim’s head. All three suspects subsequently fled the scene.
Department of Homeland Security databases indicate Gonzalez-Avila illegally entered the United States Oct. 12, 2012 – approximately five days after he was denied admission to the United States at the San Ysidro Port of Entry when he presented a U.S. birth certificate belonging to another person and a counterfeit school identification card.
San Diego Field Office Director Gregory J. Archambeault deemed Gonzalez-Avila’s arrest to be important to public safety and international cooperation. San Diego ERO deportation officers apprehended Gonzalez-Avila at his Escondido residence Nov.18, 2016, paving the way for his repatriation to Mexico last week.
Following his arrest, Gonzalez-Avila was placed into removal proceedings and transferred to ICE custody at the Otay Mesa Detention Facility. He was ordered removed by a U.S. immigration judge Aug. 28. The removal order was executed Sept. 29 in conjunction with the handover to Mexican authorities at the San Ysidro Port of Entry the same day.
“This was an unconscionable, cowardly act that our dedicated field officers worked tirelessly with our law enforcement counterparts here and in Mexico to ensure justice is served,” said Archambeault. “Violent criminals who believe they can evade justice by fleeing into the U.S. should take note – they will find no refuge here.”
Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 1,500 foreign fugitives from the United States who were sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder. ERO works with the ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Office of International Operations, foreign consular offices in the United States, and Interpol to identify foreign fugitives illegally present in the United States. Members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives are urged to contact ICE by calling the toll-free ICE tip line at 1 (866) 347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also file a tip online by completing ICE’s online tip form.
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