Phoenix officers repatriate a Mexican national wanted for homicide
PHOENIX — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) repatriated a Mexican citizen Tuesday who was wanted in his home country on charges of homicide.
Jorge Luis Malaga-Estrada, 32, was transferred to the custody of Mexican authorities through the Nogales DeConcini Port of Entry by ERO officers with the Phoenix field office.
On Oct. 11, the Office of the Mexican Attorney General notified ICE that an arrest warrant had been issued for Malaga-Estrada. At that point, ICE located Malaga-Estrada, who was already in the custody of the Arizona Department of Corrections for a felony drug conviction, and lodged an immigration detainer. ICE assumed custody of him Oct. 27, when he completed his sentence.
According to Department of Homeland Security records, U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents arrested Malaga-Estrada Jan. 12, 2016, on immigration violations after they determined he was illegally present in the United States. Subsequently, USBP turned him over to the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office because he was wanted on charges related to marijuana possession.
“Removing foreign fugitives trying to escape law enforcement is a top priority for ICE,” said Henry Lucero, field office director for ERO Phoenix. “The cooperation between the U.S. and our Mexican counterparts resulted in the return of this man who is a threat to public safety.”
Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 1,700 foreign fugitives from the United States who were sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder. In fiscal year 2016, ICE conducted 240,255 removals nationwide
ICE is focused on removing public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members, as well as individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws, including those who illegally re-entered the country after being removed and immigration fugitives ordered removed by federal immigration judges.
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