ICE deportation officers in Chicago remove Salvadoran wanted on terrorism charges in his home country
CHICAGO — A Salvadoran man wanted in his home country for his involvement in a terrorist organization was removed Wednesday by deportation officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO).
The ERO El Salvador office and its Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement (SAFE) task force provided valuable assistance.
Pedro Juan Cruz-Cortez, 23, was flown to El Salvador July 31 on a charter flight coordinated by ICE Air Operations (IAO). Upon arrival, ERO officers transferred Cruz-Cortez to officials from El Salvador’s Civilian National Police.
On June 23, 2017, Interpol San Salvador issued a Red Notice seeking Cruz-Cortez for his involvement in a terrorist organization.
This removal was part of ERO’s SAFE Initiative. The SAFE Initiative is geared toward identifying foreign fugitives who are wanted abroad and are removable under U.S. immigration law. SAFE aligns with ERO’s public safety priorities and eliminates the need for formal extradition requests.