Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has deported an illegal immigrant who is wanted for murder in Mexico and had been living illegally in the U.S. despite having been stopped at the border more than half a dozen times previously.
Juan Martinez Merida, a Mexican illegal immigrant, was deported in October, authorities said in a recent press release.
He had previously been detained at least seven times at the border, and had been allowed to depart voluntarily — where an illegal immigrant is allowed to leave the country by themselves and therefore avoid being given a final order of removal. He then escaped into the country as a got-away at an unknown time, according to ICE.
ICE ARRESTS BRAZILIAN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CHILD RAPIST IN MARTHA’S VINEYARD
He was arrested in August by ICE’s branch in Philadelphia, and was charged with inadmissibility. Last month an immigration judge ordered his removal to Mexico, since there is an active warrant for his arrest.
In a statement, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) said Merida was wanted for murder in Mexico.
“ERO Philadelphia is dedicated to ensuring that individuals seeking to evade justice in their home countries are removed from our communities and returned home to face justice,” ERO Philadelphia Field Office Director Cammilla Wamsley said in a statement.
