I.C.E. News Release

October 1, 2009

ICE deports illegal alien wanted in Jamaica for murder

ALEXANDRIA, La. - A Jamaican national who fled to the United States to avoid serving a criminal sentence for murder was deported Sept. 24 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation officers.

Mark Dixon, 39, was returned to Jamaica under ICE escort without incident. The New Orleans Field Office of Detention and Removal coordinated his removal with the assistance of the ICE Attaché in Kingston, Jamaica.

In 1998, Dixon illegally entered the United States in Buffalo, N.Y. On Feb. 27, 2008, he was convicted in Arizona for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and for making a false claim to U.S. citizenship. Dixon was sentenced to a year and six months in prison. He subsequently appealed the conviction to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and on Feb.12, 2009, the court affirmed the conviction.

On June 16, 2008, Dixon was released from the Bureau of Prisons into ICE custody. He was later served with a Notice to Appear before an immigration judge charging him with immigration violations. On July 1, 2008, an immigration judge ordered Dixon removed to Jamaica.

"Apprehending dangerous foreign fugitives hiding in the United States is a top priority of ICE and our international law enforcement partners, including the Jamaican authorities," said Philip Miller, field office director for the Office of Detention and Removal in New Orleans. "ICE is committed to ensuring the integrity of the nation's immigration system and it is in the interest of national security and justice around the world to capture and return wanted fugitives to their native countries to face justice."

Nationwide, ICE has arrested more than 190 foreign fugitives from countries around the world since fiscal year 2007. ICE returned more than 369,000 illegal aliens to their countries of origin during fiscal year 2008, a nearly 27 percent increase over the previous year.

-- 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: Thursday, October 1, 2009
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0910/091001alexandria.htm