ERO Washington, D.C. removes fugitive wanted for aggravated murder, terrorist affiliation in El Salvador

WASHINGTON — Enforcement and Removal Operations Washington, D.C. removed an unlawfully present 38-year-old Salvadoran fugitive from the United States to El Salvador Oct. 4 and turned him over to Salvadoran authorities. Officers with ERO Washington, D.C. removed William Alexander Albanez-Herrera, a documented MS-13 street ang member who was wanted by law enforcement authorities in El Salvador for terrorist organization, aggravated homicide and aggravated femicide.

“William Alexander Albanez-Herrera blatantly ignored U.S. immigration laws and attempted to flee justice by hiding out in Virginia,” said ERO Washington, D.C. Field Office Director Liana Castano. “We refuse to allow our Washington, D.C. and Virginia neighborhoods to become safe havens for the world’s criminals. Albanez-Herrera been returned to El Salvador to face some serious charges there. ERO Washington D.C. will continue to prioritize public safety by apprehending and removing egregious noncitizen offenders from our communities.”

U.S. Border Patrol apprehended Albanez-Herrera June 5, 2014, after he unlawfully entered the United States near Rio Grande City, Texas. U.S. Border Patrol issued Albanes-Herrera an order of expedited removal and transferred him into ERO custody.

ERO removed Albanez-Herrera from the United States to El Salvador July 31, 2014.

Albanez-Herrera unlawfully reentered the United States on an unknown date, at an unknown location, and without inspection, admission or parole by a U.S. immigration officer.

Salvadoran authorities issued an arrest warrant for Albanez-Herrera May 24, 2018, for terrorist organization, aggravated femicide and aggravated homicide.

Interpol issued a public Red Notice for Albanez-Herrera’s arrest Aug. 13, 2018, based on the Salvadoran arrest warrant.

ERO Washington received information May 12 that Albanez-Herrera was possibly residing in the Northern Virginia area.

Officers from ERO Washington arrested Albanez-Herrera July 19 during a targeted enforcement operation in Woodbridge, Virginia, and served him a notice of intent to reinstate a prior removal order.

Officers with ERO Washington, D.C. removed Albanez-Herrera from the United States to El Salvador Oct. 4 and turned him over to Salvadoran authorities.

ERO Washington, D.C. would like to thank ERO El Salvador and its Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement taskforce for facilitating the transfer of custody of Albanez-Herrera to Salvadoran authorities. This removal could not have been possible without their valuable support and coordination.

ERO conducts removals of individuals without a lawful basis to remain in the United States, including at the order of immigration judges with the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. The Executive Office for Immigration Review is a separate entity 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, determining if a noncitizen is subject to a final order of removal or eligible for certain forms of relief from removal.

ERO is focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that protects the homeland through the arrests and removals of those who undermine the safety of American communities and the integrity of immigration laws.

Entering the United States without authorization is a violation of federal law, and those who do so may be subject to administrative arrest, and in some cases, criminal prosecution.

As one of ICE’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.

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

Learn more about ERO Washington, D.C.’s mission to increase public safety in our Washington, D.C. and Virginia communities on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @EROWashington.