Federal immigration authorities have removed a Mexican national wanted for serious criminal charges, including organized crime and forced disappearances, according to a recent release from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Edgar Damian Sandoval-Albarran, 39, also known as “La Rana,” was turned over to Mexican authorities at the Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Ariz., on June 26 following his arrest earlier this year in California and with support from ERO Los Angeles, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Phoenix carried out the removal.
Sandoval-Albarran is the subject of an active arrest warrant issued by the Mexican government on September 12, 2024, for alleged involvement in organized crime and the forced disappearance of persons. He had previously been expelled from the United States eight times in 2020, yet reentered illegally on an unknown date and at an unknown location.
“The removal of Sandoval-Albarran demonstrates the collaborative, whole-of-government approach that ICE supports in protecting the citizens of the U.S.,” said John Cantú, Field Office Director for ERO Phoenix. “Our dedicated officers and partners in law enforcement have worked tirelessly to ensure that such individuals are brought to justice and then removed from the United States.”
On January 7, ERO Los Angeles arrested Sandoval-Albarran during a targeted enforcement operation in Paso Robles, California, following the notice of his foreign fugitive status.
Officials say cases like this reflect ICE’s ongoing mission to coordinate with international and domestic law enforcement partners in locating and removing noncitizens wanted for serious crimes abroad. Although Sandoval-Albarran had been repeatedly removed from the country, his continued illegal reentry flagged him as a high-priority target for immigration enforcement.
ICE emphasized that cooperation with foreign governments and targeted field operations remain key tools in addressing cross-border criminal activity and ensuring that individuals facing serious charges are held accountable.
