EL PASO, Texas — A Mexican national and convicted sex offender, who was one of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Top 10 most wanted fugitives, was removed to his home country Tuesday by officers with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Jesus Guitron-Aguilera, 56, who has been wanted by ICE since 2010, was removed aboard a charter flight coordinated by ICE Air Operations (IAO) Unit.

Guitron-Aguilera has a lengthy criminal history, which includes a felony conviction for attempted criminal sexual conduct — assault with intent of sexual penetration, as well as four misdemeanors, including two convictions for driving under the influence. Guitron-Aguilera, a field laborer, was convicted of the sex-assault charge July 13, 1992, and was sentenced to five years in prison.

On Sept. 26, 2008, a federal immigration judge ordered Guitron-Aguilera removed. His appeal of the judge’s order was dismissed Aug. 10, 2010. On June 9, 2014, Guitron-Aguilera was seen driving a red Corvette and was stopped by authorities. However, he escaped on foot and was not found again until Sept. 26, 2017, when ERO deportation officers assigned to the Fugitive Operations Unit arrested him in Utah as a result of a tip.

“Our ICE fugitive operations teams not only identify and arrest dangerous criminals in our communities, they also remove them, thereby protecting public safety,” said William P. Joyce, acting field office director for ERO El Paso. “Our streets are safer thanks to the hard work and dedication of our officers.”

ICE deportation officers deport illegal aliens every day in locations around the country as part of the agency’s mission to protect public safety, border security and the integrity of the nation’s immigration system. The agency’s pursuit of criminal aliens is motivated by our commitment to promote public safety and enforce U.S. immigration laws.

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 1,700 foreign fugitives from the United States who were sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder. In fiscal year 2016, ICE conducted 240,255 removals nationwide. Ninety-two percent of individuals removed from the interior of the United States had previously been convicted of a criminal offense.

Members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives are urged to contact ICE by calling the ICE tip line at 1 (866) 347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also file a tip online by completing ICE’s online tip form. ERO coordinates the removal of criminals, foreign fugitives and others ordered deported.

ICE Air History

ICE routinely uses special air charters to transport aliens who have final orders of removal from an immigration judge. Staffed by ICE ERO Air Operations officers, these air charters enable the agency to repatriate large groups of deportees in an efficient, expeditious and humane manner. Since 2006, ICE Air Operations has supported ERO by providing mass air transportation and removal coordination services to ERO field offices nationwide.