Accused murderer deported to Mexico

NEW ORLEANS - A man wanted for a murder in Mexico in 2004 was deported on Thursday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.

Javier Collazo-Medrano, 41, a Mexican national, was turned over to Mexican authorities in El Paso, Texas, via an ICE chartered aircraft.

"ICE works closely with our international law enforcement partners to identify, locate and deport aliens who are wanted in their home countries for allegedly committing heinous crimes," said Philip Miller, field office director of the ICE Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in New Orleans. "We will not allow criminal aliens to use the United States as a safe haven from their crimes." Miller oversees a five-state area including Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee.

Collazo entered the United States on an unknown date at an unknown location, without admission or parole into the United States.

His removal was coordinated with ICE's Office of International Affairs, ICE Attaché Mexico, ICE Flight Operations and the New Orleans Office of Chief Counsel.

-- ICE --

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.