ICE Phoenix removes Salvadoran national wanted for bribery, illicit financial activity
PHOENIX – On Wednesday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) repatriated Roberto Carlos Silva-Pereira, 45, a citizen of El Salvador who is wanted for bribery and money laundering in his native country in addition to murder in Guatemala. ERO transferred custody of Silva-Pereira to law enforcement in El Salvador.
On Jan. 25, 2007, the National Civil Police in El Salvador, issued an arrest warrant against Silva-Pereira for the offenses of bribery and money laundering. Silva-Pereira allegedly bribed local officials to obtain construction contracts while serving as a parliamentary alternate in El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly. Additionally, Silva-Pereira is wanted in Guatemala for his alleged involvement in the murders of three Salvadoran legislative deputies and their driver.
On Oct. 5, 2007, ICE officers detained him for illegal entry and placed him in removal proceedings.
On Aug. 11, 2008, an immigration judge ordered Silva-Pereira removed from the United States to El Salvador. On Jan. 7, 2020, following years of litigation before the Executive Office for Immigration Review, as well as the federal courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit denied all Silva-Pereira’s appeals.
“ERO Phoenix is committed to removing foreign fugitives from the United States who are being sought in their native countries for serious crimes,” said Albert E. Carter, acting field office director for ERO Phoenix. “The return of this alien to face criminal charges in El Salvador is the result of ongoing cooperation between ICE and our foreign counterparts. Foreign fugitives should be put on notice – they will find no refuge here.”
ICE removed or returned 267,000 aliens in fiscal year 2019. ERO arrested 143,000 aliens, more than 86 percent of whom had criminal convictions, pending criminal charges or previously-issued final orders.
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, such as those who illegally re-enter the country after a prior removal, and immigration fugitives ordered removed by federal immigration judges.
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