Tag Archives: Criminal Alien Program

Criminal Aliens Deported for Child Sex Abuse Charges

February 8, 2013blogarrest, child predator, criminal alien, Criminal Alien Program, deportation, detention, ERO, felon, HSI, ICE, international child predator, removalAlex Meyerovich

Two Utah felons separately convicted of sexual abuse of a child were deported Thursday, January 31, 2013, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Andres Sanpedro-Jeronimo, 30, formerly of Magna and Angel Adrian Jaurequi-Lopez, 24, formerly of Orem, were removed from the Salt Lake City area to Mexico after completing prison terms at correctional facilities in Utah.

In 2006, Sanpedro-Jeronimo and two other co-defendants pleaded guilty in Utah’s 3rd District Court to committing the 2004 sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl. Prosecutors said the trio took turns sexually abusing the girl all the while documenting the crime on film. They were turned in to police by a store clerk when they had the film developed. Sanpedro-Jeronimo was sentenced to a term of one to 15 years in state prison. He also pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges in connection to the photos. He was sentenced to 60 months, which was served consecutively with his state term.

Jauregui-Lopez was arrested in November 2011 by local police for sexually abusing a young girl. He was convicted in Utah’s 4th District Court in 2012 of sexual abuse of a child and sentenced to a term of one to 15 years. Being illegally present in the U.S. and having been deported three times before, Jauregui-Lopez was charged and convicted of the federal crime of illegal reentry of a previously removed alien. He served 69 days in federal prison before being deported again Thursday, January 31, 2013.

“Every day ERO officers track criminal aliens serving prison terms in Utah to ensure they are immediately taken into ICE custody when they are released,” said Thomas E. Feeley, acting field office director for ERO Salt Lake City. “These are individuals who have proven to be a danger to Utahans and it is ICE’s top priority in the interest of public safety to effect their removal from the U.S.”

ERO’s Criminal Alien Program (CAP) identifies potentially deportable aliens incarcerated in jails and prisons throughout the United States. CAP officers interview and review inmates’ biographical information. Although ERO initiates removal proceedings against criminal aliens through CAP, these individuals may remain in prison or jail to complete their criminal hearings or sentences. Under CAP, ERO uses a risk-based approach to make determinations about the detention and arrest of criminal aliens, with priority given to cases involving individuals deemed to be a security or public safety threat.

Mexican Murder Suspect Deported by ICE

January 21, 2013blogarrest, criminal alien, Criminal Alien Program, deportation, detention, ERO, foreign fugitives, HSI, ICE, ICE Office of International Affairs, illegal alien, immigration fugitive, murder, removalAlex Meyerovich

A 41-year-old Mexican national wanted for murder by authorities in Baja California was removed Wednesday, January 16, 2013, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers.

Saul Camargo-Avendano was transported from Salt Lake City by commercial airline under ICE escort to San Diego where he was turned over to Mexican officials at the San Ysidro border crossing. Camargo-Avendano was encountered in December at the Salt Lake County Jail by ICE officers assigned to ERO’s Criminal Alien Program (CAP) following his arrest by local police. He was transferred to ICE custody and a previous order of removal was reinstated Dec. 20 when the state charges were dismissed. In December 2011, Camargo-Avendano was removed twice in the same day after he attempted to illegally enter the U.S. at Calexico, Calif.

Records checks by ERO indicated Camargo-Avendano was a possible suspect in a homicide committed in Ensenada, Baja California. Los Angeles-based representatives from the Mexican Attorney General’s Office subsequently confirmed that a warrant for his arrest was issued last September. Camargo-Avendano and seven other suspects were charged by Mexican authorities with the February 2011 slaying of Ensenada councilman Arturo Castellanos-Ruiz. Mexican officials believe the killing was connected to a labor union dispute. Camaro-Avendano is the second suspect apprehended by Mexican authorities in connection with the case.

“ICE’s top immigration enforcement priority is to protect the community from individuals who may pose a threat to public safety, especially individuals who are using the U.S. as a haven from foreign prosecution,” said Thomas E. Feeley, acting field office director for ERO Salt Lake City. “Had it not been for ERO officers working cooperatively with local jail authorities to screen inmates for immigration violations, this dangerous murder suspect would have been set free.”

ERO’s Criminal Alien Program identifies potentially deportable aliens incarcerated in jails and prisons throughout the United States. CAP officers interview and review inmates’ biographical information. Although ERO initiates removal proceedings against criminal aliens through CAP, these individuals may remain in prison or jail to complete their criminal hearings or sentences. Under CAP, ERO uses a risk-based approach to make determinations about the detention and arrest of criminal aliens, with priority given to cases involving individuals deemed to be a security or public safety threat.

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 500 foreign fugitives from the United States who were being sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder. 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.

U.K. Man Deported from Texas for Indecency with Child

July 12, 2012blogchild predator, criminal alien, Criminal Alien Program, deportation, ERO, foreign fugitive, HSI, ICE, removal, United KingdomAlex Meyerovich

A British man, who was wanted for indecency with a child in his home country, was deported Tuesday, July 10, 2012, and turned over to United Kingdom officials by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Houston.

After he was arrested July 16, 2010 on two counts of indecency with a child, Anthony Kenneth Hirst, 51, was encountered at Harris County Sheriff’s Office by officers with ERO’s Criminal Alien Program. Hirst was convicted for this offense and sentenced to 12 months in jail in Texas. He was released April 23 and was immediately transferred to ERO custody. Hirst is scheduled for arraignment on the U.K. charges July 11.

“ERO helps ensure that alien fugitives do not find safe haven from justice in the United States,” said Steven P. Boll, acting field office director for ERO Houston. “ICE is committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners here and abroad to ensure these fugitives are identified and returned to their home countries.

ERO is focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that targets serious criminal aliens who present the greatest risk to the security of our communities, such as those charged with or convicted of homicide, rape, robbery, kidnapping, major drug offenses and threats to national security. ERO also prioritizes the arrest and removal of those who game the immigration system, including immigration fugitives or criminal aliens who have been previously deported and illegally re-entered the country.

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed about 455 foreign fugitives from the United States who were being sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder. To identify foreign fugitives illegally present in the country, ERO works with ICE’s Office of International Affairs, foreign consular offices in the United States, and Interpol.