ICE Minnesota removes fugitive wanted in El Salvador
Suspect wanted for various charges including murder, terrorism
ST. PAUL, Minn. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers removed an unlawfully present Salvadoran national Friday, who is wanted in his home country for charges of aggravated murder, attempted murder and terrorism.
Jose Wilmer Montano, aka Jose Wilmer Matamoros-Montano, 28, and an illegal alien fugitive, was removed from the United States on a charter flight coordinated by ICE's Air Operations Unit and turned over to law enforcement officials in El Salvador Jan. 15.
Montano is wanted in El Salvador for numerous charges stemming from a 2014 incident in which he and two others are alleged to have attacked a Salvadoran police station using firearms, killing a mechanic and wounding local officers. The two other individuals who were alleged accomplices were arrested locally shortly after the incident. Montano fled the country and was later encountered by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers in September in the Minneapolis metropolitan area.
"Fugitives who attempt to evade their home country's judicial system will not find refuge in Minnesota," said Field Office Director Marcos D. Charles, of ERO St. Paul. "ICE will continue to work across all our local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to pursue those who threaten the public safety of our communities."
Montano was arrested by local police in Bloomington, Minnesota, Sept. 22, on drug and burglary charges. ERO St. Paul officers filed an immigration detainer with the Hennepin County Jail Sept. 23, after encountering him while he was in local custody. Montano was arrested by ICE Sept. 24, after the jail released him. He remained in ICE custody until a hearing before a federal immigration judge in November.
On Nov. 20, while he was in ICE custody, ERO St. Paul received notice that Montano was the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the government of El Salvador for charges of murder, attempted murder and an act of terrorism while using a firearm.
On Nov. 30, a federal immigration judge ordered his removal to El Salvador. Under U.S. law, Montano had until Dec. 28 to file an appeal of the court’s decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals, which did not occur. A subsequent stay of removal request was denied by ICE Jan. 6, and he was removed Jan. 15.
ICE is focused on removing public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members, as well as individuals who have violated our nation's immigration laws.
Members of the public who have information about foreign fugitives are urged to contact ICE by calling the ICE Tip Line at 1 (866) 347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also file a tip online by completing ICE’s online tip form.
Updated: