An illegal alien from Honduras with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer pleaded guilty to first degree murder and was sentenced to 45 years in prison last Monday in Montgomery County (Texas).
Melvin Ramirez-Russel, 39, was brought to ICE’s attention by the Montgomery County (Texas) Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) in January after they arrested him for brutally killing Gerardo Munoz de la Paz and attempting to cover up the crime by disposing of the body.
After being alerted to Ramirez-Russel’s presence, ICE lodged a detainer with MCSO on Jan. 31. Ramirez-Russel illegally entered the United States in 2006 near Hidalgo, Texas. He has not been previously encountered by immigration officials prior to MCSO alerting ICE to his presence. ICE will seek to take custody of Ramirez-Russel following his release from prison and place him in removal proceedings.
MCSO maintains a partnership with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) under the 287 (g) Program (Delegation of Immigration Authority) to notify the agency when they encounter someone who is illegally present in the United States.
This press release was originally published by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
