Lars Larson Show: Criminal Alien of the Week Report

Lars Larson Show: Criminal Alien of the Week Report

March 21, 2023

Lars:

This week we have in the third full week of March 2023 a “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” for your radio listeners and webpage followers that is an update on a criminal case of another illegal alien who killed an adult female Oregon resident more than a decade ago.

Some history, on Mother Day May 11, 2008 Leonel Zurita-Loeza while Driving Under Influence of Intoxicants (DUII) crashed the vehicle he was driving into a car driven by Carma Colleen Smith killing the 52-year old wife, mother of seven and grandmother of four, a resident of Dayton, a town located in Yamhill County, Oregon.

Leonel Zurita-Loeza was on a Diversion for a previous DUII out of Washington County when he killed Mrs Smith.

On May 12, 2008 Leonel Zurita-Loeza was arrested by the Oregon State Police (OSP) and transported and booked into the Yamhill County Jail in McMinnville, Oregon.

The criminal case against Leonel Zurita-Loeza (Case Number: CR080239) was prosecuted in Yamhill County Circuit Court where on August 12, 2008 he pled guilty and was sentenced to prison for approximately 15-years by a circuit court judge for the crimes of one count of Manslaughter I, four counts of Assault III and one count of DUII.

On August 14, 2008 Leonel Zurita-Loeza (SID: 17045856; DOB: 09/20/1981) entered into the custody of the Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) prison system at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility intake center, his earliest release date being set at March 21, 2023.

“Criminal Alien of the Week Report” research indicates that since September 1, 2008 a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) immigration detainer was placed on Leonel Zurita-Loeza while he has been incarcerated in the DOC prison system.

According to former Pacific Northwest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Public Affairs Officer (PAO) Tanya Roman statement from October 11, 2018 Mexican national Leonel Zurita-Loeza is illegally in the United States, an immigration detainer was placed on him while he has been incarcerated in the DOC prison system.

Back to the present, seeking information on Leonel Zurita-Loeza’s current immigration status on Thursday, March 9, 2023 the “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” contacted via e-mail U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Public Affairs Director of Communications, Northwest Region Alethea Smock.

A March 16, 2023 online search by the “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” on the Oregon Department of Corrections Oregon Offender Search webpage revealed Leonel Zurita-Loeza, age 41, was incarcerated at the Santiam Correctional Institution located in Salem, Oregon.

Knowing the estimated release date of Leonel Zurita-Loeza, the “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” contacted on March 17, 2023 Oregon Department of Corrections Communications Manager Amber Campbell with the following three questions:

Will the Oregon Department of Corrections officials or officers honor the more than decade long U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) immigration detainer placed on Leonel Zurita-Loeza on or after the DOC’s earliest release date for Zurita-Loeza of March 21, 2023 and then transfer custody of him to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers?

Furthermore, if Oregon Department of Corrections prison officials in the past allowed ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers some form of access to criminal alien inmates with ICE immigration detainers, at what date (month and year) did DOC prison officials cut off access of ERO officers to interview or take into custody prison inmates?

If Oregon Department of Corrections officials or officers don’t on or after the DOC’s earliest release date of March 21, 2023 for Leonel Zurita-Loeza transfer custody of him to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers, what county will Zurita-Loeza be released into to be on parole/probation to serve his 36-months of court ordered post prison supervision?

On the same day, March 17th, DOC Communications Manager Amber Campbell responded to the “Criminal Alien of the Week Report’s” questions in this way:

“House Bill 3265 was passed and signed into law July 19, 2021. This law prevents DOC from using ICE detainers. If the Adult In Custody is a foreigner or was born outside the United States, DOC is not to place an ICE detainers on the AIC.

In reference to Leonel Zurita-Loeza, he was admitted to DOC custody on 8/14/2008 and remains incarcerated with an earliest release date of 3/21/2023. He will be under post-prison supervision after his release from prison.” – Amber Campbell, DOC Communications Manager.

On Monday, March 20, 2023 ICE Public Affairs Director of Communications, Northwest Region, Alethea Smock responded via e-mail with the following statement on Leonel Zurita-Loeza:

“STATEMENT:

Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) is focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that protects the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of our communities and the integrity of our immigration laws. As part of routine operations, ERO targets and arrests non-citizens who commit crimes and have violated our nation’s immigration laws.

ON BACKGROUND:

• Leonel Zurita-Loeza, 41, is a citizen of Mexico who was convicted of manslaughter, assault in the 3^rd degree and DUI by Yamhill County Circuit Court, Oregon, August 12, 2008. Zurita is a noncitizen present in the U.S. without admission or parole. Entering the United States without authorization is a violation of federal law, and those who do so may be subject to administrative arrest as well as criminal prosecution.

• According to the Oregon Department of Corrections, Zurita is scheduled to be released from custody March 21. Oregon will no longer honor the immigration detainer due to sanctuary laws and he will be released into the community without notification to ICE.

• “At-large” arrests, in general, refer to those apprehensions that occur beyond (outside) the confines of a secure facility, such as a local law enforcement jail or prison. In other words, at-large apprehensions indicate ERO officers conducted a targeted arrest within a community.” – Alethea Smock, ICE Public Affairs Director of Communications, Northwest Region.

Analysis, the Oregon Department of Corrections’ pending release of convicted killer, serial DUII driver, criminal alien Leonel Zurita-Loeza back into the state is the direct result of sanctuary laws; like HB 3265 passed by Oregon State Legislature in 2021 and signed into law by Governor Kate Brown, a anti-federal immigration enforcement law that prevents DOC prison officials and all the state’s law enforcement agencies from cooperating with ICE Enforcement Removal Operations in the safe removal of real dangerous dysfunctional people from the United States of America.

Leonel Zurita-Loeza, soon to out of custody of both the Oregon Department of Corrections and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, continues to be the tip of the iceberg of criminal aliens being released from the DOC prison system back into the state without the notification of ICE Enforcement Removal Operations.

Prior to the time of Mexican national Leonel Zurita-Loeza’s estimated March 21, 2023 release date from the DOC prison system, just after HB 3265 became a state law, on August 1, 2021 there were 731 criminal aliens incarcerated in the state’s prisons, 16 months later, on December 1, 2022 there were 595 criminal aliens incarcerated in the state’s prisons — the difference of these preceding numbers mean as many as 136 criminal aliens were released back into Oregon counties without DOC prison officials being able to notify ICE Enforcement Removal Operations of their release from prison.

Lars, the third full week in the month of March 2023 and another “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” for Lars Larson Show KXL FM 101.1 Pacific Northwest radio listeners and website followers.

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Lars Larson Show: Criminal Alien of the Week Report

Lars Larson Show: Criminal Alien of the Week Report

March 7, 2023

Lars:

This week we have in first full week in the month of March 2023 a “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” for your radio listeners and webpage followers that is an update on a criminal case of an illegal alien who killed an adult female Oregon resident more than a decade ago.

Ignacio Merendon-Zerega (Case Number: CR070606; SID: 7213917; DOB: 11-04-1962) was convicted and sentenced May 5, 2008 in Yamhill County Circuit Court for one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree and one count Driving Under Influence Felony for killing Judyth Anne Cox, a 66-year old wife, mother of two and grandmother of six, a resident of Newberg, Oregon in Yamhill County on December 3, 2007.

A past Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) Oregon Offender Search webpage search revealed Ignacio Merendon-Zerega entered the DOC prison system on May 6, 2008 with his earliest release date being March 27, 2022.

According to “Criminal alien of the Week” DOC records Ignacio Merendon-Zerega was last incarcerated at the Snake River Correctional Institution (SRCI) located in Ontario, Oregon.

During time period from when Ignacio Merendon-Zerega was incarcerated at the Yamhill County Jail on December 3, 2007 and in the Oregon Department of Corrections prison system a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) immigration detainer was placed on him.

Prior to killing Mrs. Cox Ignacio Merendon-Zerega was convicted of Driving Under the Influence Intoxicants (DUII) five times between 1989 and 2003 in Marion County, Oregon (Case Numbers: 89D104053-D, 92D101724-D, 02C44164, 03C42060 and 03C54366).

According to former Pacific Northwest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Public Affairs Officer (PAO) Tanya Roman statement from October 11, 2018 Mexican national Ignacio Merendon-Zerega was illegally in the United States, an immigration detainer was placed on him while he was incarcerated in the DOC prison system, furthermore, he had one prior removal from the country.

Knowing the estimated release date of Ignacio Merendon-Zerega, the “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” contacted on April 8, 2022 Oregon Department of Corrections Communications Manager Jennifer Black with the following two questions:

Did the DOC on or after the date of March 27, 2022 release or turnover custody of Ignacio Merendon-Zerega to ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO)?

Big picture, since the passage of Oregon House Bill 3265 during the 2021 Legislative Session is the DOC turning over custody of dangerous criminal aliens like Ignacio Merendon-Zerega who have completed their prison sentences to ICE?

On April 18, 2022 DOC Legislative and Government Relations Manager Marie D. Garcia responded to the “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” questions:

“Thank you for reaching out to the Department of Corrections (DOC) with questions related to Mr. Merendon-Zerega and implementation of HB 3265. Communications Manager Jennifer Black has forwarded your email to me for response.

Since passage of HB 3265, DOC has adhered to its requirements including, but not limited, to Section 2(1)(c): “(1) A law enforcement agency or public body may not: (c) provide information about an individual in the custody of the public body or law enforcement agency to a federal immigration authority for the purpose of civil immigration enforcement” as well as Section 3(1)-(2)(b): “(1) Public facilities, property, moneys, equipment, technology or personnel may not be used for the purpose of investigating, detecting, apprehending, arresting, detaining or holding individuals for immigration enforcement. (2) Actions with a purpose described in subsection (1) of this section include, but are not limited to, the following: (b) Supporting or assisting a federal agency in immigration enforcement.”

Within that legislative framework, the agency is no longer facilitating the transition of releasing adults in custody (AIC) into the custody of ICE. Mr. Merendon-Zerega was released to post-prison supervision in Marion County on March 27, 2022. Under the provisions of HB 3265, that process would be the same for any AIC in similar circumstances.” – Marie D. Garcia, DOC Legislative and Government Relations Manager.

On April 11, 2022 the “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” sent via e-mail U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Seattle Field Office extensive details of Ignacio Merendon-Zerega’s release from the DOC prison system and his last suspected location while on probation in Marion County, Oregon.

On April 12, 2022 ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations confirmed via e-mail receiving the April 11, 2022 e-mail from the “Criminal Alien of the Week” reporter.

Seeking information on Ignacio Merendon-Zerega’s current immigration status on Monday, February 27, 2023 the “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” contacted via e-mail U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Public Affairs Director of Communications, Northwest Region, (WCD) Alethea Smock.

According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office Case Load Report concerning parole or probation on March 4, 2023 Ignacio Merendon-Zerega was on limited supervision in Marion County.

On Monday, March 6, 2023 ICE Public Affairs Director of Communications, Northwest Region, Smock responded via e-mail with the following statement on Ignacio Merendon-Zerega:

“ON BACKGROUND:

Ignacio Merendon Zerega, 62, is a Mexican national who is currently at large following his release from prison after serving sentences for manslaughter, driving under the influence, assault, and driving with a suspended or revoked license. Merendon Zerega entered the U.S. at an unknown date or location, and an immigration judge ordered him removed to Mexico July 21, 2006. At an unknown date or location, Merendon Zerega reentered the U.S.

Enforcement and Removal Operations officers encountered Merendon Zerega while in custody at the Yamhill County (Oregon) Jail following his arrest on multiple charges Dec. 3, 2007, placing an immigration detainer the next day. The Yamhill County Circuit Court, Oregon, convicted Merendon Zerega of manslaughter, sentencing him to 180 months prison and 3 years post-prison supervision, driving under the influence, sentencing him to 60 months prison and 2 years post-prison supervision, assault, sentencing him to 1 year jail, and driving with a suspended or revoked license, sentencing him to 12 months jail.

On March 25, 2009, ERO Seattle again encountered Merendon Zerega while in custody in Marion County Oregon for his convictions and placed an immigration detainer the following day based on a review of his immigration and criminal histories.

The Oregon Department of Corrections released Merendon Zerega without notification to ERO Seattle as requested by the detainer and he is currently at large.

Enforcement and Removal Operations places immigration detainers on individuals who have been arrested on criminal charges and who the agency has probable cause to believe are removable under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The detainer requests the other law enforcement agency to notify ERO before a removable individual is released from custody and to maintain custody of the non-citizen for a brief period so that ERO can take custody of that person in a safe and secure setting upon release from that agency’s custody.” – Alethea Smock, ICE Public Affairs Director of Communications, Northwest Region.

Anaysis, the Oregon Department of Corrections release of convicted felon killer, serial DUII driver, criminal illegal alien Ignacio Merendon-Zerega back into the state of Oregon is the direct result of sanctuary laws; like HB 3265 passed by Oregon State Legislature in 2021, anti-federal immigration enforcement laws, that prevent DOC prison officials and all the state’s law enforcement agencies from cooperating with ICE Enforcement Removal Operations in the removal of real bad dysfunctional people from the United States of America.

Ignacio Merendon-Zerega now being out of custody of both the Oregon Department of Corrections and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is just the tip of the iceberg of criminal aliens being released from the DOC prison system back into the state without the notification of ICE Enforcement Removal Operations.

Just four days later, after the time of Mexican national Ignacio Merendon-Zerega’s March 27, 2022 release from the DOC prison system, on April 1, 2022 there were 660 criminal aliens with immigration detainers incarcerated in the state’s prisons, eight months later, on December 1, 2022 there were 595 criminal aliens with immigration detainers incarcerated in the state’s prisons — the difference of these preceding numbers mean at least 65 criminal aliens with immigration detainers were released back into Oregon counties without DOC prison officials notifying ICE Enforcement Removal Operations of their release from prison.

Lars, the first full week in the month of March 2023 and another “Criminal Alien of the Week Report” for Lars Larson Show KXL FM 101.1 Pacific Northwest radio listeners and website followers.

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U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons: Criminal Alien Report February 2023

U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons: Criminal Alien Report February 2023

March 3, 2023

By David Olen Cross

The United States having a significant foreign national population residing within the nation’s boundaries, be they legally or illegally present in the country, unfortunately includes those who commit crimes.

The extent and impact of foreign national crime on the U.S. citizens and residents of this country is clearly revealed by a simple search on the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) inmates statistics website under the heading of inmate citizenship.

Here are the countries of origin, moreover, the number and percentage of those countries citizens recently incarcerated in the U.S. BOP prison system (Note: The most recent BOP crime numbers available were from February 25, 2023.).

Inmate Citizenship:

– Mexico 13,593 inmates, 8.6 percent;
– Colombia 1,621 inmates, 1.0 percent;
– Dominican Republic 1,606 inmates, 1.0 percent;
– Cuba 759 inmates, 0.5 percent;
– Other / unknown countries 8,031 inmates, 5.1 percent;
– United States 132,044 inmates, 83.8 percent;

Total: 157,654 inmates.

To explain the meaning of these preceding criminal alien inmate numbers and percentages, I will translate them into words:

Combining February 25th BOP criminal alien inmate numbers, there were 25,610 criminal aliens in the BOP prison system. Alien inmates were 16.2 percent of the federal prison population.

With 13,593 Mexican nationals being incarcerated in the BOP prison system, at 53.1 percent, they represent a significant majority of criminal aliens in federal prisons.

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons breaks down the federal prison population into 13 types of offenses. One of the top five offenses, the reason inmates are serving time in federal prisons is for immigration crimes. There were 7,444 inmates in the BOP prison system incarcerated for immigration crimes; they were 5.1 percent of the federal prison population.

David Olen Cross of Salem, Oregon is a crime researcher who writes on immigration issues and foreign national crime. The preceding report is a service to federal, state, county and city elected and non elected governmental officials to help them assess the impact of foreign national crime in the United States of America. He can be reached at docfnc@yahoo.com. His current and past crime reports can be found at https://docfnc.wordpress.com/.