BOSTON — Three Guatemalan nationals, who were wanted by Guatemalan authorities for the rape and murder of a female, were removed from the United States today by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). They were taken into custody by law enforcement upon their arrival in Guatemala City. All three were arrested Dec. 6, 2011, in Lynn, Mass.

The three men include: 25-year-old Danilo Candelario De Leon-Robles and two others, ages 21 and 22. An Interpol Red Notice had been issued for the arrest of De Leon-Robles. The other two individuals are also wanted on other charges in Guatemala.

On Nov. 26, 2006, in the Los Puentes area of San Antonio Serchil in Guatemala, the three men allegedly attacked Hercilia Elizabeth Lopez Lopez in a deserted area. They held her by the neck and then beat, raped and strangled her to death. The three individuals have been charged by Guatemalan authorities.

Interpol Washington, U.S. National Central Bureau, working collaboratively with ICE ERO, was able to determine that two of the three individuals have a previous criminal history in Massachusetts. Further investigative information revealed that all three subjects were residing in Lynn.

In December, ICE ERO officers arrested all three individuals. The Lynn Police Department provided valuable assistance in locating these three fugitives.

"Thanks to our excellent partnership with the Lynn Police Department, we have ensured that these individuals will be prosecuted for their alleged crimes in Guatemala," said Dorothy Herrera-Niles, field office director for ICE ERO Boston. Herrera-Niles oversees ICE ERO throughout New England. "Their arrest and removal should serve as a reminder to foreign fugitives who mistakenly believe they can elude justice by fleeing to this country. ICE will continue to work closely with its foreign law enforcement counterparts not only to ensure that criminals are held accountable for their actions, but to safeguard the rights of law-abiding citizens here and overseas."

These arrests were coordinated with ICE's Fugitive Operations Program, which is responsible for locating, arresting and removing at-large criminal aliens and immigration fugitives – aliens who have ignored final orders of deportation handed down by the nation's immigration courts. ICE's Fugitive Operations Teams give top priority to cases involving aliens who pose a threat to national security and public safety, including members of transnational street gangs and child sex offenders.

An Interpol Red Notice is used to alert law enforcement agencies in member countries that arrest warrants have been issued and extradition will be sought for the fugitives. Being the subject of this type of notice is not a presumption of guilt. Interpol is the world's largest international police organization with 190 member countries. It serves as a facilitator of international police cooperation.