ERO New York arrests fugitive wanted in El Salvador for homicide and criminal participation
NEW YORK — On Dec. 14, deportation officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations New York field office, commonly called ERO New York, apprehended a Salvadoran national who is wanted for homicide and criminal participation in MS-13 in El Salvador.
On Feb. 2, 2015, El Salvador issued an arrest warrant for Walter Jose Galeas Sanchez pursuant to Articles 129 and 345 of the current Salvadoran Criminal Code.
On an unknown date and at an unknown location, Galeas entered the United States without being inspected by an immigration official. On Oct. 13, 2022, ERO New York prepared a Notice to Appear, charging removability pursuant to Section 212(a)(6)(A)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act as a noncitizen present without admission or parole.
“Working in collaboration with a foreign-based ICE attaché’s office, ERO New York was able to locate and arrest this dangerous individual,” said ERO New York Acting Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo. “This is one more victory in our goal to maximize community safety.”
On Dec.14, 2022, an ERO New York Fugitive Operations Team and the ERO New York Special Response Team arrested Galeas without incident. He is currently detained in ICE custody, without bond, pending removal proceedings.
ICE officers make enforcement decisions on a case-by-case basis in a professional and responsible manner, informed by their experience as law enforcement officials and in a way that best protects against the greatest threats to the homeland.
Noncitizens placed into removal proceedings receive their legal due process from federal immigration judges in the immigration courts, which are administered by the Executive Office for Immigration Review, or EOIR. EOIR is an agency within the U.S. Department of Justice and is separate from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers carry out the removal decisions made by the federal immigration judges.
In fiscal year 2021, ERO arrested 12,025 individuals with aggravated felony convictions. Offenses associated with noncitizens arrested in FY 2021 included 1,506 homicide related offenses, 3,415 sexual assaults, 19,549 assaults, 2,717 robberies and 1,063 kidnappings.
ICE’s ERO directorate upholds U.S. immigration law at, within and beyond our borders. ERO operations target public safety threats, such as convicted criminal noncitizens and gang members, as well as individuals who have otherwise violated our nation's immigration laws, including those who illegally reentered the country after being removed and immigration fugitives ordered removed by federal immigration judges. ERO deportation officers assigned to Interpol also assist in targeting foreign fugitives or fugitive arrest and removal cases of those who are wanted for crimes committed abroad and who are now at-large in the United States. ERO manages all aspects of the immigration enforcement process, including identification and arrest, detention, bond management, supervised release, transportation and removal. In addition, ERO repatriates noncitizens ordered removed from the United States. to more than 170 countries around the world.
Members of the public can report crimes and/or suspicious activity by dialing 866-347-2423 or completing the online tip form.
Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in your community on Twitter @ERONewYork.
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