ERO Philadelphia removes criminal noncitizen wanted in El Salvador for extortion
PHILADELPHIA — Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Philadelphia removed Jaime Ernesto Navarette Mejia, a citizen of El Salvador with a final order of removal, to El Salvador on October 20. Navarette is a foreign fugitive wanted by law enforcement authorities in El Salvador for extortion.
"Our officers work tirelessly to ensure that foreign fugitives like Navarette are unable to evade justice by hiding in the United States. We will continue to prioritize the removal of criminal noncitizens who pose a threat to our communities," said ERO Philadelphia Field Office Director Cammilla Wamsley.
Navarette entered the United States without admission or parole by an immigration official on an unknown date at an unknown location. In October 2014, the Baltimore Police Department in Maryland arrested Navarette for attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and firearm use during a felony or violent crime. In November 2016, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland convicted Navarette of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise. He was sentenced to 121 months of incarceration.
ERO Philadelphia encountered Navarette at the U.S. Penitentiary Canaan in Waymart, Pennsylvania, on Dec. 28, 2017, and lodged an immigration detainer with the facility. On Dec. 12, 2018, ERO Philadelphia served Navarette with a final administrative removal order, charging him with removability under the Immigration and Nationality Act. Navarette waived his right to appeal. On Sep. 13, 2023, ERO Philadelphia arrested Navarette at the Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary in Lewisburg and transferred him to the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Philipsburg to begin removal proceedings.
As one of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) three operational directorates, ERO is the principal federal law enforcement authority in charge of domestic immigration enforcement. ERO’s mission is to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of those who undermine the safety of U.S. communities and the integrity of U.S. immigration laws, and its primary areas of focus are interior enforcement operations, management of the agency’s detained and non-detained populations, and repatriation of noncitizens who have received final orders of removal. ERO’s workforce consists of more than 7,700 law enforcement and non-law enforcement support personnel across 25 domestic field offices and 208 locations nationwide, 30 overseas postings, and multiple temporary duty travel assignments along the border.
Members of the public can report crimes or suspicious activity by calling 866-347-2423 or completing ICE’s online tip form.
Learn more about ERO’s mission to increase public safety in your community on X, formerly known as Twitter, @EROPhiladelphia.
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