I.C.E. News Release

December 29, 2008

ICE deports man wanted for 2 murders in Mexico

ICE deports a Houston gang member that Mexican officials believe was involved in a double murder.

BROWNSVILLE, Texas - A gang member arrested in Houston earlier this month by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents and Houston Police Department officers was deported to Mexico Monday to face charges for the murder of two women.

Carlos Garcia-Hernandez, 19, a citizen of Mexico, was turned over to Mexican officials on the Brownsville International Bridge at approximately 1:00 p.m. Monday. Garcia-Hernandez, a member of the "Houstone" street gang in Houston, Texas, was arrested December 11 after ICE received word that Mexican authorities were seeking him.

Garcia-Hernandez has previous convictions in Houston for possessing marijuana, escaping from law enforcement custody, and driving with a counterfeit driver's license. ICE previously deported him in November of 2007.

The number of illegal aliens repatriated by ICE jumped 20 percent in the latest fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30. During fiscal year 2008, ICE removed or returned a total of 349,041 illegal aliens to their native countries, compared to 288,663 in fiscal year 2007. Notably, one-third of the aliens removed last year had prior criminal convictions in addition to being in the country illegally.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

Last Modified: Monday, December 29, 2008
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0812/081229brownsville.htm