May 23, 2007

"Paisas" gang member sentenced to five years in prison for re-entry after deportation

MCALLEN, Texas -A member of the "Paisas" street gang was sentenced yesterday to five years in federal prison for re-entering the U.S. after two previous deportations. This sentence resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Jose Zarazua-Aleman, a 26-year-old Mexican national, was arrested Jan. 5 as he attempted to depart the U.S. to Mexico using the pedestrian lane at the Hidalgo Port of Entry. ICE agents had selected Zarazua-Aleman for a routine outbound inspection as part of an enforcement operation conducted at the port of entry. A records check revealed that he had been previously deported from the U.S on two occasions.

Zarazua-Aleman was first removed in October 2001 based on a drug conviction. He re-entered the U.S. in January 2003 and was arrested by local police for assault on a family member. Local police learned that Zarazua-Aleman had re-entered the country after being deported and turned him over to ICE. In May 2003 he was sentenced to serve a three-year prison term for re-entry after deportation and was again deported in 2006.

"The sentencing of Zarazua-Aleman goes to show you can run but you can't hide from the law," said Jerry Robinette, special agent in charge for ICE's Office of Investigations overseeing the McAllen area. "Zarazua-Aleman is just another example of how ICE continues to go after violent gang members and bring them to justice despite their eagerness to hide from the law."

Upon completion of his sentence, Zarazua-Aleman will be turned over to ICE for removal back to Mexico and will be barred from entering the U.S. indefinitely.

This case is part of ICE's Operation Community Shield, a national initiative that targets violent street gangs and prison gangs with foreign-born members. Since Operation Community Shield began in 2005, ICE has apprehended more than 1,374 MS-13 gang members and 3,508 members of other gangs.

ICE uses its broad immigration authorities (both criminal and administrative) against gang members, as well as its customs authorities in targeting gang-related narcotics smuggling, gun smuggling, money laundering, and in seeking the forfeiture of illegally derived assets.

To report suspicious activity, members of the public should call the ICE at 1-866-DHS-2ICE.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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