U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Philadelphia successfully extradited a 75-year-old Salvadoran national, Angel Anibal Alvarado Benitez, wanted for his alleged involvement in death-squad killings during El Salvador's brutal civil war. According to ICE's recent statement, Alvarado Benitez was removed from the United States on March 22 and turned over to law enforcement authorities in El Salvador.
Accused of taking part in the kidnapping, torture, and murder of five civilians in the village of San Andres in April 1981, the former Salvadoran was hunted by his home country's law enforcement. ICE's Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center (HRVWCC), together with the assistance of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) attaché in San Salvador, spearheaded the investigation leading to Alvarado Benitez's capture and eventual deportation.
In a coordinated effort between HSI and ERO in Baltimore, Alvarado Benitez was arrested in June 2023 for being in the United States without proper documentation. Following his transfer to the ERO Philadelphia office and after legal proceedings by the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor in Baltimore, an immigration judge ordered his removal, a decision that became administratively final on February 9, 2024. This action aligned with ERO's mission to uphold U.S. immigration laws and safeguard its communities from individuals who pose a threat to public safety.
With a directive to enforce the nation's immigration statutes, ERO oversees domestic immigration enforcement. The agency boasts more than 7,700 law enforcement and civilian support staff dispersed across the country and enterprises in 25 domestic field offices, 208 nationwide locations, 30 foreign postings, and numerous temporary assignments along U.S. borders. Public reports of crimes or suspicious activities can be directly submitted by calling 866-347-2423 or by filling out the online tip form provided by ICE.
