ICE removes Guatemalan national wanted for gender crimes in his home country

MINNEAPOLIS - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in St. Paul removed illegally present Leonardo Elias Chicoj Mejia, 26, to his home country April 9 to face charges of gender based violence which includes charges such as domestic violence.

Upon arrival in Guatemala, Chicoj was arrested by Guatemalan authorities in close coordination with the Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement taskforce and turned over to the courthouse for criminal proceedings

Chicoj entered the United States at an unknown location and location without admission by an immigration official. He was encountered by ICE officers at the Beadle County Jail, in Huron, South Dakota, Feb. 4 where he was being held on local charges for assault, obstructing an officer and resisting arrest.

He was moved Feb. 6 to ICE custody at the Minnehaha County Jail in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for removal proceedings.

"We appreciate the cooperation of our partners in South Dakota to assist in removing this illegal alien from our community," said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operation St. Paul Field Office Director Peter Berg. "We also appreciate the efforts of our ICE office in Guatemala in making this a smooth transition so Chicoj can face justice in his home country."

Learn more about ICE's mission to increase public safety in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska on X, @EROSaintPaul