|
Mexico City, March 17, 2005– “The arrest of this fugitive, a suspect in the brutal murder of a woman from Ciudad Juarez, is a victory for justice,” said U.S. Ambassador Tony Garza. “The quick action of law enforcement officers in both Mexico and the U.S. demonstrates that together we can capture and bring to trial those responsible for crimes.”
Manuel Angel Rodriguez Delgado, wanted for questioning in the stabbing death of Patricia Montelongo, was handed over to Mexican authorities at the El Paso del Norte border crossing point yesterday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. On March 15, the Chihuahua attorney general’s office requested help from the U.S. Marshals in locating Rodriguez Delgado, who was thought to have fled to the United States after the body was discovered in an abandoned house.
“Fugitives from either country should know that if they are trying to use our common border to escape justice, we will work together to enforce our laws,” said Ambassador Garza. “The victims of crime in both Mexico and the United States deserve to see those accused in court.”
Rodriguez Delgado was the 27th fugitive returned from the United States to Mexico to stand trial in the past six months. Nineteen of these fugitives were wanted by the Mexican police on murder charges, two for kidnapping, the rest on weapons, narcotics and robbery charges.
During the same period, Mexico deported 50 fugitives wanted in the United States and eight more were granted extradition to stand trial.
Last week on March 9-10, the Mexican Attorney General’s office (PGR) convened state and federal officials to discuss ways to increase the return of Mexican fugitives from the U.S.; nine U.S. experts from the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security explained the means available to ensure the arrest of suspects.
|
