Officials from Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in San Francisco have expedited the transfer of a wanted Mexican national back to his homeland to face charges of homicide and attempted homicide, according to an ICE report. The fugitive, David Antonio Hernandez Ventura, 26, was flown out of McFarland, California, and surrendered to Mexican authorities at the San Ysidro Port of Entry on April 24.

Hernandez was initially caught by U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Border Patrol agents as he tried to slip into the United States using the alias Ruben Sanchez-Ignacio. Despite being removed under Title 42 authority multiple times, Hernandez managed to re-enter unlawfully and was later found residing in Fresno. "I am proud of the work ERO San Francisco officers do on a daily basis to keep the streets of our communities safe," ERO San Francisco Field Office Director Moises Becerra said in the ICE statement.

In Hernandez's case, the continued pursuit of justice-involved collaborative law enforcement and legal efforts. After being arrested on local charges on December 2, 2023, by the Fresno Police Department, Hernandez was detained by ERO officials. Subsequently, his case was heard by an immigration judge, who ordered his removal on February 8. His appeal was dismissed by the Board of Immigration Appeals on April 4, making way for his eventual deportation.

Immigration cases such as Hernandez's are adjudicated by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), an entity under the U.S. Department of Justice, which operates independently from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). "Noncitizens placed into removal proceedings receive their legal due process from federal immigration judges in the immigration courts," stated the ICE release. These courts are empowered to singularly decide based on the individual merits of each case, with ICE officers to carry out their removal orders.

ERO, a central enforcement arm of ICE, is in charge of both domestic immigration enforcement and the management of detained and non-detained noncitizens awaiting removal. With a robust team and extensive reach, ERO protects U.S. communities and immigration law integrity by locating and removing individuals who threaten national security or public safety. The public can contribute to these efforts by reporting crime and suspicious activities through a designated hotline or an online tip form.