U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has successfully extricated Carlos Alfredo Montano-Velasquez, an alleged member of the 18th Street Gang, wanted by El Salvador for criminal conspiracy, and escorted him back to his home nation, ICE officials reported. According to a release from ICE, Montano-Velasquez, a 32-year-old unlawfully present El Salvadorian, was removed from the U.S. last Friday, ensuring his apprehension by Salvadoran law enforcement upon arrival.
The cooperative effort involved multiple agencies, with ERO Houston, ERO El Salvador, and the Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement Task Force working in tandem to locate and secure Montano-Velasquez, who had previously skirted through the cracks of the U.S. immigration system after entering unlawfully at an unknown date and location and even after an immigration judge ordered his removal back in 2019 – it was not until Nov. 4, that ICE officers were able to take him into custody once again. "The 18th Street Gang is a violent transnational gang known for its brutality and sophistication," ERO Houston Field Office Director Bret A. Bradford said in a statement obtained by ICE.
Montano-Velasquez's departure was executed via a charter flight from Alexandria, Louisiana, to the El Salvador International Airport in San Salvador, ICE reported. The operation is part of ongoing efforts by ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) to address transnational crime and enhance safety within U.S. communities by acting upon final orders of removal issued by immigration judges and endorsed by the appellate system.
ICE officials emphasize the necessity of an engaged public in the fight against international fugitives, recommending that those with relevant information about foreign fugitives make contact by calling their Tip Line or submitting details through ICE's online tip form. The role of ERO and its partnerships like the SAFE Program are indispensable in the apprehension and repatriation of criminal noncitizens who defy the integrity of immigration laws, ensuring such programs are paramount in ICE's mission.
