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Father of 2 who testified in Brooklyn homicide cases released by ICE

August 15, 2017 By Paul Frangipane Special to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle
William Siguencia Hurtado with his wife Marta Mizhquiri at the Brooklyn DA’s Office after he was released by ICE. Eagle photos by Paul Frangipane.
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William Siguencia Hurtado testified in two Brooklyn homicide cases, landing five people in prison. His testimony was rewarded with detention in Manhattan, 3,000 miles away from his home country and a borough apart from his wife and two children.

Hurtado, 34, was released by Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) last week and met reporters Tuesday inside the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office to thank his lawyers and Acting DA Eric Gonzalez for fighting on his behalf.

“All of us owe a debt of gratitude to William Hurtado,” Gonzalez said. “William here helped keep Brooklyn safe.”

Hurtado and his family were forced to move when his testimony brought threats to his household, the Daily News reported.

But he vowed to continue helping law enforcement if needed.

“I’m always going to help,” Hurtado said in Spanish. “There are things that aren’t good for the community and I was never in agreeance with the bad things that people do.”

Hurtado said he was especially scared for his family when he was detained on June 29, leaving behind his wife Marta Mizhquiri with his 4-month-old son and 10-year-old daughter.

Gonzalez argued for Hurtado’s legal residence and sent a letter to ICE pushing for Hurtado’s release.

“The letter that was provided, I believe was significant and monumental in his release,” Hurtado’s lawyer, Karen De La Cruz said.  

Hurtado crossed the Mexican border in 2002, originally from Ecuador.

He was arrested two years later for harassment and statutory rape of his current wife, who is a U.S. citizen, but both cases were dismissed, according to the News.

The federal agency allowed him to work and live in Bensonhurst while his lawyers fought to dismiss an order of removal from the U.S. that arose from the arrests.

Since 2014, Hurtado checked in annually with the government with no issue, Daily News reported.

On July 14, 2012, he was driving a cab and saw 20-year-old Abel Xochimitel get stabbed to death in Bensonhurst.

Hurtado saw the killers, Angel Juarez and Gilberto Serano two weeks later and called the police.

Both were convicted of second-degree murder and are serving prison terms of 25 years to life.

Hurtado also helped put the murderers of Ricardo Tochimani in jail the same year, causing the suspects to plead guilty.

Hurtado is now applying for a green card to stay in the country legally while his case is ongoing.

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