Mexican fugitive wanted for murder removed from US

NOGALES, Ariz. - A Mexican citizen wanted in his native country for homicide and assault and battery was turned over to prosecutors from the Mexican Attorney General's Office at the border crossing here Tuesday by agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Efrain Espinoza-Quintana, 36, is wanted for his involvement in a fight in the Mexican state of Sinaloa in May 2006 in which he is accused of killing a man with a handgun, and also shooting and injuring a 14-year-old boy.

ERO agents assigned to the San Francisco Fugitive Operations Team arrested Espinoza at the Kingsburg Superior Court in Kingsburg, Calif., on Aug. 9 following his arrest for driving under the influence. ICE was alerted to Espinoza's scheduled appearance by a liaison with the Mexican Attorney General's Office (PGR) in Los Angeles. On Aug. 18, Espinoza was transferred to the Eloy Detention Center in Eloy, Ariz., where an immigration judge ordered his removal to Mexico on Aug. 31.

"We will not allow foreign fugitives a chance to find safe haven by illegally entering the United States," said Katrina S. Kane, field office director of ICE ERO in Phoenix. "Thanks to the diligent work of the PGR, we are ensuring this individual will be prosecuted for his alleged crimes in Mexico."

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ICE ERO has removed approximately 260 foreign fugitives from the United States. ERO works with ICE's Office of International Affairs, foreign consular offices in the United States and INTERPOL to identify foreign fugitives illegally present in the country.