ERO Washington, D.C. arrests fugitive wanted for kidnapping, aggravated homicide, femicide in El Salvador

WASHINGTON — Enforcement and Removal Operations Washington, D.C. apprehended an unlawfully present Salvadoran fugitive wanted in his native country for deprivation of liberty, aggravated homicide and femicide charges in his home country. Deportation officers from ERO Washington, D.C.’s Richmond field office apprehended the 25-year-old Salvadoran noncitizen June 17 during a targeted operation in Hopewell, Virginia.

“This Salvadoran national is wanted by authorities in his home country for some terrible crimes,” said ERO Washington, D.C. Field Office Director Liana Castano. “This individual posed a very serious threat to the residents of Virginia until our officers arrested him. ERO Washington, D.C. will continue to prioritize public safety by apprehending the most egregious noncitizen offenders.”

U.S. Border Patrol apprehended the Salvadoran noncitizen Feb. 3, 2016, after he unlawfully entered the United States as an unaccompanied minor near Calexico, California. Border Patrol officials served the Salvadoran national with a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge. 

USBP released the noncitizen to the Office of Refugee and Resettlement Feb. 4, 2016, which then released him to his father’s custody on an order of recognizance March 12, 2016.

The Petersburg Police Department in Virginia arrested the Salvadoran noncitizen March 6, 2018, for felony possession of a controlled substance. Later that day, officials released him on his own recognizance.

On May 29, 2018, a Department of Justice immigration judge in Arlington, Virginia, ordered the Salvadoran noncitizen removed from the United States to El Salvador in absentia. On Sept. 10, 2018, the General District Court in Petersburg issued a warrant for his arrest for felony possession of controlled substance.

Authorities in El Salvador issued an arrest warrant for the fugitive’s arrest Feb. 12, 2019, for the offenses of aggravated homicide and deprivation of liberty. Salvadoran authorities issued another arrest warrant for the fugitive’s arrest Oct. 23, 2020, for the offenses of aggravated femicide and illicit association.

Upon learning of the Salvadoran fugitive’s possible presence in their area of operations, deportation officers from ERO Washington, D.C.’s Richmond field office conducted a targeted operation and apprehended the Salvadoran fugitive June 17, in Hopewell, Virginia. The Salvadoran fugitive, who is subject to a final order of removal will remain in ERO custody pending his removal from the United States.

As one of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s 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.

In fiscal year 2023, ERO arrested 73,822 noncitizens with criminal histories; this group had 290,178 associated charges and convictions with an average of four per individual. These included 33,209 assaults; 4,390 sex and sexual assaults; 7,520 weapons offenses; 1,713 charges or convictions for homicide; and 1,655 kidnapping offenses.

Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in your community on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @EROWashington.