Las Vegas law enforcement arrest Salvadoran MS-13 gang member wanted in home country for aggravated murder
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — An unlawfully present Salvadoran national wanted by law enforcement authorities in El Salvador on gang participation charges related to terrorism and aggravated murder charges was arrested by officers and agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Operation Community Shield violent gang task force, which comprises HSI Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, on March 3.
Noe Victelio Rivera-Batres, aka “Colocho”, 50, is a known or suspected member of the transnational criminal street organization known as Mara Salvatrucha or “MS-13”. Rivera illegally entered the United States in June 2018 near McAllen, Texas, and was issued a Notice and Order of Expedited Removal by the U.S. Border Patrol on June 12, 2018. The United States District Court, Southern District of Texas, McAllen Division, convicted Rivera of Illegal Entry, and sentenced him to time served. He was subsequently turned over to ICE custody and was released on bond the same day.
On March 11, 2019, Specialized Magistrates Court, City of San Miguel, El Salvador, issued an arrest warrant for Rivera for terrorist organizations and aggravated murder, and on May 15, 2019, INTERPOL issued a Red Notice for Rivera for the same charges. According to the Red Notice, Rivera participated in a murder Oct. 31, 2015, that took place at a cemetery in Ozatlan, El Salvador. If found guilty, he faces up to 50 years in prison.
Upon learning of the INTERPOL Red Notice, ERO made a custody redetermination on Jan. 5, which required Rivera to surrender to ICE on Feb. 10. Rivera failed to present himself to authorities, and he was arrested March 3 at his Las Vegas residence. The INTERPOL Red Notice for terrorist organizations and aggravated murder is still active.
“The allegations in this case are extremely disturbing,” said Caridad Cephas-Kimbrough, acting field office director for ERO in Nevada, Utah, Montana and Idaho. “But it’s reassuring to know this individual will now be held to answer for his crimes. For its part, ERO will continue to focus resources and execute its law enforcement mission on cases that are a threat to national security, border security and public safety. ICE/ERO will carry out enforcement actions in accordance with current guidance and maintain a high level of security in our communities and country. This includes working closely with our foreign law enforcement partners to promote public safety and hold dangerous criminal offenders accountable for their actions -- no matter where they commit their crimes.”
“HSI remains committed to identifying, investigating and arresting individuals who pose a serious public safety threat to our communities,” said Francisco Burrola, special agent in charge for the HSI Las Vegas Office. “By working together with our law enforcement partners, we will ensure those individuals hiding from their home country, will not find refuge here.”
Rivera will remain in ICE custody until the completion of his removal proceedings.
High-profile arrests include those who are wanted for serious crimes in another country, such as murder, rape, sexual abuse of a minor, drug offenses, human smuggling, fraud or theft. Others include persons who are national security risks, such as suspected terrorists, those involved in counter-proliferation crimes or those on the terrorist watch list and/or the no-fly list, along with human rights or war crimes violators.
ICE is focused on arresting and removing public safety threats, such as convicted criminal individuals and gang members, as well as those who have violated our nation’s immigration laws, including those who illegally reentered the country after being removed and immigration fugitives ordered removed by federal immigration judges.
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, or by completing ICE’s online tip form.
People placed into removal proceedings receive their legal due process from federal immigration judges in the immigration courts, which are administered by the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). EOIR is an agency within the U.S. Department of Justice and is separate from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and ICE. Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case. ICE officers carry out the removal decisions made by the federal immigration judges.
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