SUSPECTED SERIAL KILLER SURRENDERS TO AUTHORITIES

Following a month-long intensive manhunt by the FBI and state law enforcement officials from at least three states, suspected serial killer Rafael Resendez-Ramirez is now in custody. He voluntarily came across the border at El Paso, Texas and surrendered to the INS, who then turned him over to the Texas Rangers.

The search for Resendez-Ramirez caused more chaos and confusion along the US-Mexico border than is usually present. Local people called the FBI on every "suspicious" looking Hispanic near a railroad. Undocumented migrants who traditionally travel by rail were worried that they might encounter Resendez-Ramirez.

Resendez-Ramirez, who goes by many names, had eluded officials for months, travelling by railroad. He is suspected of at least eight murders, in Illinois, Kentucky, and Texas. Authorities also suspect he may have been involved in many other killings. One of the reasons officials are so sure they have the right person is the cooperation of Resendez-Ramirez’ wife in Mexico. She turned pieces of jewelry over to authorities that family members have identified as belonging to one of the victims.

In late June it was revealed that Resendez-Ramirez had been in INS custody many times, and was in their fingerprint database, IDENT, which is designed to keep a record of all people who the INS removes across the border. The last time Resendez-Ramirez was in INS custody was on June 2. The INS returned him to Mexico, even though by that point both Texas authorities and the FBI had alerted the INS to the search for Resendez-Ramirez. He is thought to have reentered after this and killed at least four more people.

Politicians have used this incident to go after the INS. Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY), who has been advocating dismantling the INS, calls it "another act of sheer INS incompetence." Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) noted the irony that the INS was seeking bids to expand the IDENT system last month even as Resendez-Ramirez claimed another victim.

The Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General, the Department’s watchdog agency, has recently decided to investigate why the INS let Resendez-Ramirez as well.

While the surrender was arranged, there was no deal for Resendez-Ramirez. US authorities have promised to allow him access to his family while in prison and to keep him safe in prison. Resendez-Ramirez still faces possible execution. Texas is the first government that will try him, and it is almost certain they will seek the death penalty. Given this, one has to wonder why he turned himself in. Mexico does not have a death penalty, and refuses to extradite people to countries where they face execution.

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