A Cleveland immigration judge on Monday ordered the deportation of Salvador Hernandez-Solorzano, a 33-year-old man from El Salvador who had been held in immigration custody for more than a year. The judge said there are "serious reasons to believe" he committed a crime in his home country and rejected Hernandez-Solorzano's account that he had already been cleared of homicide charges there. The ruling marks a pivotal moment in a case that has drawn attention across the Tri-State region.
Judge's Ruling Ends Year-Long Detention
As reported by Local 12, the Cleveland immigration judge ordered Hernandez-Solorzano deported after concluding the evidence met the legal threshold and explicitly rejecting his testimony in court. Local 12 reported that the decision followed extensive testimony and documents presented during the hearing. Hernandez-Solorzano had been held in ICE custody while pursuing asylum and related appeals.
Background: Arrest, Allegations and the Acquittal Claim
Federal agents arrested Hernandez-Solorzano in Hamilton in April 2025. The FBI and ICE said he was wanted in El Salvador on murder charges and identified him as a suspected MS-13 member, according to WCPO. The agency statement said Hernandez-Solorzano remained in ICE custody at the Butler County Jail pending immigration proceedings. Local reports also detailed his arrival in late 2023 and the paperwork he filed when seeking entry to the United States.
Attorney Pushback and Evidence
Hernandez-Solorzano's attorney provided court records to WLWT showing he was acquitted of aggravated homicide in El Salvador and said she would press for bond and continue fighting his asylum claim. Attorney Cassie Rodriguez told WLWT that her client fears for his life if returned and that officials have wrongly labeled him an MS-13 member. WLWT reported that ICE did not immediately respond to media requests for comment.
What the Ruling Means and What Comes Next
Immigration law allows judges to bar asylum or withholding of removal if "there are serious reasons for believing" an applicant committed a serious nonpolitical crime abroad. Government guidance and case law treat that standard as roughly comparable to probable cause. According to USCIS, this bar can disqualify someone from asylum even without a foreign conviction. Hernandez-Solorzano can seek review through the immigration appeals process, and the Cleveland Immigration Court handles removal hearings for the region.
Local attorneys say they plan to appeal and to press for bond while the government moves to begin removal paperwork. The judge’s decision could be paused if the defense wins a stay on appeal. The case highlights how immigration judges weigh foreign records, gang allegations and asylum claims in high-stakes proceedings. Hernandez-Solorzano's lawyer told WLWT she intends to continue pursuing every legal avenue to block his removal.
