Undocumented Salvadoran National Wanted for Aggravated Homicide Apprehended by ERO Washington, D.C.

ERO Washington, D.C. ensures violent fugitive faces justice, preventing safe haven for criminals

Washington, D.C. – Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington, D.C. successfully apprehended an undocumented Salvadoran national who is wanted by authorities in El Salvador for deprivation of liberty and aggravated homicide. The ERO's Special Response Team apprehended the individual in Richmond, Virginia, on May 18. Pending his removal to El Salvador, the noncitizen will remain in ERO custody.

The arrest marks a significant step in addressing the serious charges brought against the Salvadoran national. Assistant Field Office Director Erik Weiss of ERO Washington, D.C. emphasized the commitment to ensuring the District of Columbia and Virginia do not become safe havens for violent fugitives. He stated, "We owe our residents better than that."

El Salvadoran authorities have actively sought the apprehension of the noncitizen, who is the subject of an Interpol Red Notice. The individual entered the United States without inspection or admission by an immigration official, though the specific date and location remain unknown.

The U.S. Border Patrol previously arrested the noncitizen in Hidalgo, Texas, in October 2016. Subsequently, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a notice to appear, initiating the removal process.

El Salvador issued an arrest warrant for the individual in July 2017 for the offense of aggravated homicide, followed by an additional warrant in July 2018 for deprivation of liberties. In January 2019, Interpol issued a Red Notice pertaining to the pending charge of deprivation of liberties.

On April 17, 2023, an immigration judge from the Justice Department’s Executive Office for Immigration Review ordered the noncitizen's removal in absentia from the United States to El Salvador. The immigration courts, administered by EOIR within the Department of Justice, provide noncitizens with legal due process. Immigration judges make case-by-case decisions, determining whether a noncitizen is subject to a final removal order or eligible for relief from removal. Once a final removal order is issued, ICE officers may execute the removal.

Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) serves as the principal federal law enforcement authority within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) responsible for domestic immigration enforcement. ERO's mission is to safeguard the homeland by arresting and removing individuals who undermine community safety and violate U.S. immigration laws. With a focus on interior enforcement operations, ERO manages detained and nondetained populations and repatriates noncitizens with final removal orders. The dedicated workforce of over 7,700 personnel operates across multiple domestic field offices, overseas postings, and border assignments.

The arrest of the undocumented Salvadoran national underscores the commitment of ERO Washington, D.C. and its partners to uphold the law and ensure that individuals facing serious criminal charges are held accountable for their actions.

ICE aids in capture of international fugitives

Perdomo Henriquez was a notorious, violent gang leader in El Salvador - wanted for crimes ranging from decapitation and dismemberment to murder and extortion. He made his way to New York where he wandered our streets, lived among us. This month, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers removed him from the United States and placed him in the custody of law enforcement in El Salvador.

Henriquez's story is not unique. Across the world, fugitives evade law enforcement by fleeing countries where they've committed crimes. Since August 2010, ICE's Fugitive Alien Removal Program has removed 27 individuals from the United States who were wanted overseas.

The removals are due in large part to improved cooperation with INTERPOL, the international police organization. One hundred eighty-eight countries are INTERPOL members. They work with one another to disseminate information about wanted fugitives.

"INTERPOL has played a significant role in how ICE responds to and disseminates information about international fugitives," said Deputy Assistant Director of the Fugitive Operations Division John K. Crowther. "We think of it as a warning system that not only helps the United States, but a number of other countries as well. INTERPOL notices alert law enforcement agencies around the world that an international gang member or child predator may be seeking refuge in their country. That country can then monitor, and if appropriate, arrest the deported criminal alien for crimes committed. Additionally, these notices are a great tool for limiting the ability of a criminal to travel from one country to another."

In September 2010, ICE and INTERPOL initiated the first joint international fugitive enforcement operation called "Operation Far Away." Sixteen countries in the Western hemisphere participated in the operation targeting at-large INTERPOL foreign fugitives. The operation netted 30 arrests of individuals wanted for crimes ranging from human trafficking to political assassination. ICE's Fugitive Operations Team had a hand in 23 of them.