By Stephen Baxter

Santa Cruz Sentinel
Posted: 12/06/2013 06:48:30 PM PST

WATSONVILLE -- Josue Perez Romo, the 23-year-old Watsonville man accused of shooting his uncle in November, is being held in a facility in Northern California as he awaits a deportation hearing, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said.

An immigration judge will rule if Romo, a Mexican citizen, will be deported in the next few weeks, said ICE spokeswoman Virginia Kice.

Romo was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder Nov. 20 after police said he shot Watsonville businessman Ramiro Romo at Romo's Auto Sales at 118 E. Riverside Drive.

Authorities said Ramiro Romo, 55, is expected to recover. The two men and two others were drinking and doing drugs in the used car lot's office about 3:30 a.m. when several shots were fired, police said.

When asked if Romo is wanted on a murder warrant out of Mexico, Kice declined to comment. Santa Cruz County law enforcement authorities also say they do not know the nature of the warrant.

Josue Romo had been in Santa Cruz County Jail until Nov. 25, when ICE officials took him into custody.

Santa Cruz County prosecutors have not said if or when Romo will be charged in the Watsonville shooting and could not be reached Friday.

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/san...tation-hearing