I.C.E. News Release

October 4, 2011
Cleveland, OH

ICE deports Mexican fugitive wanted for murder

CLEVELAND — A Mexican fugitive, who was wanted for allegedly bludgeoning a man to death with a lead pipe, was deported Tuesday where he faces homicide charges in his home country. This removal was conducted by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Miguel Angel Ceja-Hernandez, 35, was flown Oct. 4, 2011, from Toledo, Ohio, to Laredo, Texas, on a government charter flight. ICE ERO officers escorted Ceja-Hernandez across the border into Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, and turned him over to the custody of Mexican authorities to face criminal charges.

"Ceja-Hernandez is a violent criminal who tried to escape justice in Mexico by hiding in the United States," said Rebecca Adducci, field office director for ICE ERO in Ohio and Michigan. "Our country will never be a safe for haven for criminal aliens."

Ceja-Hernandez is wanted in Mexico for allegedly beating a man to death with a pipe after an apparent argument over a bet on a professional boxing match in August 2000. According to the arrest warrant issued in December 2000 in Michoacán, Mexico, Ceja-Hernandez was involved in a raucous bar fight with the victim and others before striking the victim in the abdomen causing internal injuries and bleeding which subsequently led to his death.Â

On Sept. 21, 2011, Ceja-Hernandez was arrested without incident during Operation Cross Check II by members of the Cleveland Fugitive Operations Team and deputies from the Summit County (Ohio) Sheriff's Department at his residence in Green, Ohio.

He was housed at the Bedford Heights City Jail in Ohio before his removal to Mexico.

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ICE ERO has removed approximately 260 foreign fugitives from the United States. ERO works with ICE's Office of International Affairs, foreign consular offices in the United States and INTERPOL to identify foreign fugitives illegally present in the country.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423 or complete our tip form.

U.S. Dept of Homeland Security

http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/1110/1 ... veland.htm