Mexican National Wanted For A Triple Homicide In Mexico Has Been Deported By U.S. ICE

Mexican triple murder suspect had been living in the U.S., according to ICE.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

October 22, 2015

Nogales, Arizona - On Thursday, U.S. ICE in a press release reported that a Mexican national, wanted in his native county for his role in the drug-related kidnapping and murder of three brothers, was turned over Wednesday to Mexican law enforcement officials at the Grand Avenue Port of Entry by officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Roberto Garcia-Castillon, aka "El Robi," 47, was repatriated under tight security, escorted by members of ERO's tactical team and U.S. Border Patrol agents. After arriving at the Nogales border crossing, he was transferred to the custody of representatives from the Mexican Procuradaria General de la Republica (PGR). Garcia is charged with a kidnapping and triple homicide that occurred in the Mexican state of Sonora in September 2011.

A warrant issued by Mexican authorities in January of this year alleges Garcia is one of six suspects who kidnapped and then murdered three brothers – Javier Mendoza-Lopez, Jesus Mendoza-Lopez and Armando Mendoza-Lopez – in a drug-related ambush. Garcia fled following the killings.

Garcia came to ICE's attention most recently following his arrest in December 2014 by the Tucson Police Department on local charges. While incarcerated in the Pima County Jail, Garcia was encountered by ERO officers, who lodged a detainer seeking his transfer to ICE custody upon his release by local authorities. In May, Garcia was remanded to ICE custody and the agency repatriated him Wednesday after reinstating his prior removal order, the ICE press release reported.