ICE detains international fugitive wanted in El Salvador on terror-related charges

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) this week announced it had detained an international fugitive in New York City after learning he was wanted in El Salvador on terrorism charges.

ERO detained the individual, who is a known member of the 18th Street gang the Colombia Little Cycos Surenos clique, on Nov. 8 without incident.

"Not only is this individual a known member of a violent international street gang that engages in a variety of criminal activities to include acts of assault, robbery, kidnapping, murder and firearms trafficking; he is also a foreign fugitive wanted on terrorism charges. This noncitizen is a direct threat to the security of the United States and a danger to our New York communities. I am grateful to our officers for removing him from our streets," ERO New York City Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo said.

The individual originally entered U.S. custody in 2018, but claimed asylum, resulting in an immigration judge blocking his deportation earlier this year. ERO rearrested him after learning from its Salvadoran attaché that he was wanted in that country.

El Salvador, for its part, is currently in the midst of a large-scale crackdown on organized crime and drug cartels under the leadership of President Nayib Bukele. The country has detained tens of thousands of alleged gang members, many of whom are still awaiting trial.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.