Man wanted in Mexican homicide deported from El Paso to Mexico
A fugitive wanted in Mexico in connection with a homicide has been deported.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) turned 37-year-old Jose Refugio Gonzalez-Gaytan over to Mexican authorities at the top of El Paso’s Stanton International Bridge on Wednesday.
Gonzalez-Gaytan has been wanted for allegedly stabbing 22-year-old Luis Daniel Sanchez Morales several times and causing his death in May 2014 in Zacatecas, Mexico.
ICE officials say Gonzalez-Gaytan has illegally entered the United States through Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas at least five times since 2003.
He has been deported four times.
Gonzalez-Gaytan has been arrested several times in the U.S.
On July 4, 2004, the Riverside Sheriff’s Office in Riverside, California, arrested Gonzalez-Gaytan and charged him with driving under the influence – alcohol and drugs. He was convicted and sentenced to six days in jail and three years of probation.
In March 8, 2010, he was convicted in New Mexico for illegal entry and sentenced to 30 days in prison.
On July 2, 2015, the Mexican attorney general’s office advised ERO El Paso that Gonzalez-Gaytan was wanted in Zacatecas, Mexico, for homicide, and requested ERO turn him over to Mexican law enforcement officials at the time of his removal from the country.
Gonzalez-Gaytan was convicted on Oct. 1, 2015 a second time for illegal re-entry and sentenced to three years’ probation. On Oct. 6, he was released from the El Paso County Detention Facility and turned over to ICE custody for removal.
More Information On ERO
Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 1,150 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 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.
ERO coordinates the removal of criminals, foreign fugitives and others ordered deported. Last year alone, ERO removed 315,943 individuals from the United States. ICE is focused on smart and effective immigration enforcement that prioritizes its resources based on those who pose the biggest threat to national security, border security and public safety. ICE’s civil enforcement efforts are based on priorities set by the Secretary of Homeland Security in November 2014.
