ICE removes unlawfully present Salvadoran national wanted for aggravated homicide

HOUSTON — Officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) removed an unlawfully present Salvadoran national Friday wanted in El Salvador for aggravated homicide.

Marlon Ariel Mendez Maldonado, a 28-year-old illegal alien from El Salvador, was flown from Alexandria, Louisiana, to the Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport in San Salvador, El Salvador, on a charter flight coordinated by ICE’s Air Operations Unit. Upon arrival, he was turned over to officials from El Salvador’s Civilian National Police (PNC).

Mendez Maldonado was first encountered by immigration officials from the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) on Oct. 31, 2019, near Refugio, Texas. On Nov. 1, 2019, he was transferred into ICE ERO custody.

On Dec. 20, 2019, INTERPOL issued a Red Notice for Mendez Maldonado for aggravated homicide.

On May 4, 2020, an immigration judge with the Executive Office for Immigration Review ordered Mendez Maldonado removed to El Salvador. An appeal of the IJ’s decision with the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) was denied, Oct. 9, 2020.

On Oct. 21, 2020, Mendez Maldonado requested a stay of deportation with the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. That request was subsequently denied, Dec. 14, 2020.

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. In fiscal year 2020, ERO Houston removed more than 9,544 aliens with criminal convictions and another 947 with pending criminal charges.

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.