Illegal immigrant faces deportation for aiding teen runaway
By TERRI SANGINITI • The News Journal • February 19, 2009

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An illegal immigrant is facing deportation following his arrest last week for aiding a 16-year-old Middletown girl in fleeing the country.



Middletown police arrested 22-year-old Jorge Emilio Ignacio-Romero, of Mexico City, last Wednesday and charged him with endangering the welfare of a child.


He is being held in the Young Correctional Center in lieu of $1,100 bail pending a hearing to deport him to Mexico.


Middletown Police Chief Henry Tobin said the girl was reported as a missing person in August.


It was later learned that Ignacio-Romero helped her illegally enter Mexico.


About seven weeks later, the teen was found in Mexico City.


She was returned to her East Cole Street home with the help of the U.S. Consulate, Tobin said.


On Feb. 1, when Ignacio-Romero turned up at the girl’s home, her parents notified police.


He was arrested Feb. 11 on an outstanding warrant and on the endangering charges, Tobin said.

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