U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed a Mexican national wanted in Mexico on homicide charges and suspected of laundering millions of dollars, federal officials announced Monday.
The subject, identified by the Department of Homeland Security as David Vargas-Rivera, was turned over to Mexican law enforcement authorities on July 14 following his deportation.
According to DHS statements, Vargas-Rivera faces an international warrant in Mexico for multiple homicides. Authorities identified him as an associate of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel, a Mexico-based criminal organization, where he allegedly functioned as a hitman and involved himself in fuel theft operations.
Investigators also accuse Vargas-Rivera of laundering more than $4.6 million through real estate deals during 2025.
Officers with ICE Dallas initially located and arrested Vargas-Rivera on Jan. 12, 2026, in Frisco, Texas. Beyond his charges in Mexico, federal officials noted previous law enforcement contacts in other countries, including an arrest in Canada for assault on a peace officer and uttering threats, along with a separate arrest record in Colombia.
Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis addressed the operation following the removal.
“This criminal illegal alien is wanted for murder in Mexico, has been accused of laundering more than $4.6 million, and has been identified as a hitman affiliated with the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel, a foreign terrorist organization,” Bis said. “Thanks to the hard work of the men and women of ICE and our law enforcement partners, he has been removed from our country and will face justice for his crimes back in Mexico. Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, we are putting the safety of the American people first.”
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