U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials have deported Miguel Sifuentes Jimenez, a 36-year-old Mexican national, who was wanted in his home country for serious drug and firearm offenses. His deportation took place on May 22, with Sifuentes being turned over to Mexican authorities at the Stanton Street Bridge, a significant crossing point at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Sifuentes, who last entered the United States illegally on May 3, 2021, crossed the border east of the Santa Teresa Port of Entry near Santa Teresa, New Mexico. He was quickly processed and faced a reinstatement of a prior removal order, leading to his detention. Following a brief period of incarceration, he was released by the Luna County Detention Center in Deming, New Mexico.
This was not Sifuentes’ first encounter with U.S. immigration authorities. His history dates back to January 9, 2013, when he was first ordered removed from the United States. Within weeks, on January 28, he was deported to Mexico from Calexico, California. His criminal record in the United States includes a felony robbery conviction in California in 2008, which resulted in a 364-day jail sentence, and multiple domestic violence charges leading to further jail time.
Most recently, he was serving a sentence for aggravated battery against a household member involving strangulation or suffocation at the Eddy County Detention Center in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Following his release on May 12, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) lodged a detainer and arrested him, subsequently charging him with alien inadmissibility and previously being removed as an arriving alien, which is classified as an aggravated felony.
This case underscores ongoing efforts by ICE to engage with individuals with extensive criminal records and ensure compliance with immigration laws. U.S. authorities continue to work closely with their Mexican counterparts to manage the flow of individuals crossing the border, particularly those with criminal backgrounds.
As the legal proceedings surrounding immigration enforcement evolve, the case of Miguel Sifuentes serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in U.S. immigration policy and the continuous dialogue regarding border security and public safety.
