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April 15, 2021Washington, DC, United StatesEnforcement and Removal

ICE removes Guatemalan man wanted for robbery, murder

Ismael Sanchez-Alvarado Ismael Sanchez-Alvarado

WASHINGTON - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers removed a man April 9, wanted by the Government of Guatemala for charges including aggravated robbery, attempted murder and murder.

Ismael Sanchez-Alvarado, 28, was removed from the U.S. by way of an ICE Air Operations charter flight and was transferred into the custody of Guatemalan law enforcement authorities. Sanchez-Alvarado was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice and considered a Fugitive Alien Removal (FAR) case.

“This case demonstrates the importance of maintaining robust international communication to ensure individuals, wanted for serious crimes back home, aren’t able to seek refuge in the U.S.,” said David O’Neill, acting field office director for ERO Washington, D.C. “ERO is committed to enforcing our immigration laws and ensuring criminals like Sanchez-Alvarado are held to those laws.”

Sanchez-Alvarado illegally entered the U.S. on an unknown date and at an unknown location. On April 8, 2019, the U.S. Border Patrol arrested Sanchez-Alvarado near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, and he was served a notice to appear before an immigration court. He was later transferred to ERO in El Paso, Texas, and released with instructions to report to ERO Washington, D.C. On April 22, 2019, Sanchez-Alvarado was enrolled in the Alternative to Detention (ATD) Program.

ERO Washington was notified of the INTERPOL Red Notice and foreign arrest warrant for Sanchez-Alvarado Jan. 29, 2020. The following day he was arrested at the ATD office in Richmond, Virginia, and subsequently detained in ICE custody. On Jan. 12, an immigration judge in Arlington, Virginia, ordered Sanchez-Alvarado to be removed to Guatemala and denied his application for asylum. Due to his pending international criminal charges, Sanchez-Alvarado is considered a threat to public safety.

ICE continues to implement interim civil immigration enforcement priorities directed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to focus its limited resources on threats to national security, border security and public safety. ICE carries out its duty to enforce the laws of the United States in accordance with the Department’s national security and public safety mission.

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