Friday, September 14, 2007

Illegal Immigrant Deported Five Times Faces the Death Penalty

from the Maricopa County Attorney's Office -

Case Shows Dangers Posed by Border Crisis

Today, County Attorney Andrew Thomas announced that his office will seek the death penalty against Demetro Acosta-Uribe (DOB12/23/64) for the brutal murder of Ivan Santos in Phoenix. According to police reports the victim’s body was found in May, 2007 in the front yard of a west Phoenix home. The victim had been shot to death after he was bound and his head covered in plastic wrap. Two other men were also found on the property, restrained in the same manner. Neither had been shot, but one of the victims would have suffocated had a neighbor not rescued him. Police allege Santos was shot and killed as he tried to escape. In July, Phoenix police arrested Acosta-Uribe.

The defendant is a citizen of Mexico and had been deported five times.

*The last deportation took place on May 7th, 2004. He was also deported:

  • November 21st, 2003
  • September 18th, 1997
  • July 9th, 1993
  • April 29th, 1988

*The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office is releasing the deportation dates despite a federal policy that claims releasing the dates of official deportation would violate Acosta-Uribe’s privacy. This office has concluded the public’s right to know is more important than a federal policy that has no basis in law, and that represents the expansion of special rights for illegal immigrants.

“This murder case is a textbook example of how wide open borders expose the Valley to violent crime,” said County Attorney Thomas. “It is amazing—but, sadly, all too common—that a criminal suspect who had been deported from this country five times was back again, committing more crimes. The government’s continuing failure to control our borders has made Maricopa County’s residents vulnerable to the worst kinds of violence.”

For more information contact:

Mike Anthony Scerbo, Public Information Officer

(602) 506-3170 (office) or (602) 489-6913 (cell)

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