U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removed Humberto Romero Avila, a 45-year-old Paisas gang member and foreign fugitive, to Mexico on Feb. 13. Romero has illegally entered the U.S. ten times and is wanted in Mexico for allegedly murdering Geovany Uriel Prado Morales, a 22-year-old Mexican national, on Dec. 2, 2007, in Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico.
ICE transported Romero from the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe to the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge in Laredo, where he was transferred into the custody of Mexican authorities.
Romero has multiple criminal convictions in the U.S., including four for driving while intoxicated and one each for larceny, illegal entry, and illegal reentry.
“For nearly a quarter of a century, this transnational gang member has blatantly disregarded our nation’s immigration and criminal laws, putting the life of every person he’s encountered in danger,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Houston Field Office Director Bret Bradford. “On top of that, he’s accused of brutally gunning down an innocent 22-year-old man in Mexico in 2007. In the more than 30 years that I’ve worked in immigration enforcement, I’m not sure I’ve ever come across a more egregious offender or a better example of why immigration enforcement is so critical to maintaining public safety.
“Thanks to the immigration officers who worked closely with the U.S. Embassy in Mexico to connect this foreign fugitive to the open warrant for homicide, he will no longer be free to reign terror on the general public and finally face justice for his alleged involvement in that heinous crime that took place 18 years ago,” Bradford added.
Romero’s history of illegal entry and removals
Romero first entered the U.S. illegally on March 22, 2002, and was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol. He was voluntarily returned to Mexico the same day. He repeated this pattern on June 14, June 16, and June 20 of that year, as well as on March 3, 2005, each time being immediately apprehended and returned to Mexico.
His sixth illegal entry occurred on an unknown date and location. He was first encountered on Aug. 3, 2012, at the Nacogdoches County Jail in Texas following an arrest for driving under the influence. ICE lodged an immigration detainer, and he was transferred into ICE custody on Aug. 9, 2012. An immigration judge ordered his removal to Mexico on Aug. 24, 2012, and ICE carried out the order on Aug. 27, 2012.
Romero entered the U.S. illegally for a seventh time, again on an unknown date and location. He was arrested on Aug. 31, 2013, in Shelby County, Texas, for larceny and a third DWI offense. ICE lodged an immigration detainer, and he was transferred to ICE custody on Jan. 14, 2014. His previous removal order was reinstated, and he was deported to Mexico on Jan. 16, 2014.
On Feb. 7, 2014, Romero entered the U.S. illegally for an eighth time but was immediately apprehended by Border Patrol. His removal order was reinstated, and he was deported on Feb. 11, 2014.
He entered illegally for a ninth time on March 7, 2014, and was again immediately apprehended by Border Patrol. His prior removal order was reinstated, and his case was forwarded for prosecution. On March 10, 2014, he was convicted of illegal entry in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas and sentenced to 150 days in prison. Upon his release on Aug. 1, 2014, ICE removed him to Mexico the same day.
Romero’s tenth illegal entry occurred on an unknown date and location. He was last encountered on March 22, 2024, following his arrest for felony DWI (fourth offense) in Shelby County, Texas. ICE lodged an immigration detainer and referred his case for prosecution for illegal reentry. While conducting background checks, ICE was notified by the U.S. Embassy in Mexico that Romero was wanted for homicide.
On Jan. 28, 2024, Romero was convicted of illegal reentry in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas and sentenced to time served. The Bureau of Prisons transferred him to ICE custody on Jan. 31, and his prior removal order was reinstated.
Public assistance requested
ICE encourages members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives, transnational gang members, or other criminal aliens illegally present in the U.S. to contact ICE. Tips can be submitted by calling the ICE Tip Line at 1-866-347-2423 (or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199) or by completing ICE’s online tip form.
For more news and updates on ICE’s immigration enforcement efforts in Southeast Texas, follow @EROHouston on X.
You are clearly wasting your time on deportation. You should find something more constructive to do with my tax dollars.
I don’t mind my tax dollars being spent on deportations, as long as the border is kept secure, and their asses can’t come back.
Illegal crossing attempts at several border sectors have dropped nearly 90% since Trump took office. Amazing what a difference in leadership can accomplish.
It dropped 90% while Biden was in office. Tell the truth.
SJ- illegal crossings dropped while Biden was in office? It was thousands a day, for four years. You must be a total retard… Can’t believe you have the audacity to type out and post something this egregious, verifiably false. What a dumbass
Sj suffers from a condition called Trump Accomplishment Rejection / Deflection Syndrome- also known as TARDS
He will be back next week, carry on…