Rafael Zaga Tawil, Mexican businessman, detained by ICE, is accused in his country of real estate fraud
ICE detains Mexican businessman Rafael Zaga Tawil in Florida, accused in Mexico of multimillion-dollar real estate fraud
Mexican businessman Rafael Zaga Tawil was detained by agents of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) in the state of Florida due to irregularities in his immigration status, and remains in a detention center in Glades County, according to official records of the agency.
The The arrest took place this Monday, April 13, and according to available information, the businessman was transferred to immigration facilities while his status in the United States is reviewed.
Alleged Real Estate Fraud in Mexico
In Mexico, Zaga Tawil faces accusations from the Attorney General's Office (FGR) for his alleged participation in a fraud scheme against the National Workers' Housing Fund Institute (Infonavit), for an estimated amount of $294 million. He is also accused of organized crime and money laundering, along with other members of his family.
The case is related to the company Telra Realty, which in 2014 signed a contract with Infonavit for the development of a mortgage mobility program. Three years later, the institute prematurely terminated the agreement and authorized a multimillion-dollar severance payment, even though the project had not met its established objectives. According to the Attorney General's Office (FGR), the payment of approximately $294 million lacked legal basis and was part of a scheme to divert public funds. Investigations indicate that the funds were channeled to private financial institutions. The case also includes Teofilo Zaga Tawil and Elias Zaga Hanono, as well as former Infonavit officials such as Omar Cedillo Villavicencio and Alejandro Gabriel Cerda Erdmann, who participated in authorizing the early termination agreement. Both former officials were previously arrested and later released, although arrest warrants against them were reactivated in 2024.
Fugitive from Mexican Justice
Zaga Tawil has been considered a fugitive from Mexican justice since 2020, when arrest warrants were issued against him. The process has faced temporary suspensions due to legal appeals, but the authorities maintain the charges.
In the United States, the businessman filed a legal appeal after his arrest, arguing that it was irregular. A judge ordered ICE to provide information justifying the arrest and ruled that he cannot be transferred out of the jurisdiction while his situation is resolved.