El Paso Standard

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has removed 27-year-old Kevin Estuardo Escobar Chanas, a Guatemalan fugitive sought for criminal impersonation in his home country, from the United States. On March 26, Escobar was flown from Alexandria, Louisiana, via a charter flight managed by ICE's Air Operations Unit and was handed over to Guatemalan authorities at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City.

"The successful identification and removal of this foreign fugitive is another reminder of how important it is for state and local law enforcement to work together with ICE," stated Bret A. Bradford, Field Office Director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Houston. He emphasized that without strong partnerships in Texas, Escobar might still be at large, posing a risk to public safety while his alleged victims in Guatemala remained without justice.

Escobar had entered the United States illegally on December 24, 2023, near Eagle Pass, Texas, and was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol, before being released on his own recognizance the following day. ICE later encountered Escobar at Harris County Jail on October 27, 2024, after his arrest for assault causing bodily injury. Following his prison sentence for assault, Escobar was transferred to ICE custody on January 25 and subsequently held at the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas. An immigration judge ordered his removal to Guatemala on February 25.

ICE encourages the public to provide information about foreign fugitives by contacting their tip line at 866-347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. Tips can also be submitted online through ICE’s tip form. Additionally, updates on the enforcement efforts of the ERO Houston field office can be found on X at @EROHouston.