SALVADORAN ARRESTED ON MARTHA’S VINEYARD WANTED FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, HUMAN TRAFFICKING: ERO BOSTON

TISBURY, MASSACHUSETTS — [MEDIA STATEMENT BOOKING PHOTO BLURRED BY ICE] – Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston apprehended an unlawfully present Salvadoran noncitizen wanted by authorities in his native country for crimes against humanity. Officers from ERO Boston arrested the 50-year-old fugitive Sept. 17 in Tisbury. “This Salvadoran fugitive is wanted by authorities in his native country to face some extremely serious and disturbing allegations,” said ERO Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “He attempted to hide out in Massachusetts and escape the law in his home country. He posed a substantial threat to the residents of Martha’s Vineyard. ERO Boston will continue to prioritize public safety in all of our New England communities by arresting and removing egregious noncitizen offenders.” U.S. Border Patrol apprehended the Salvadoran fugitive Nov. 27, 1994, after he unlawfully entered the United States near Harlingen, Texas. USBP issued him a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge and released him from custody. On June 21, 1995, a DOJ immigration judge ordered the Salvadoran noncitizen removed from the United States to El Salvador. The Portland, Maine, Superior Court convicted the Salvadoran noncitizen July 6, 2003, of disorderly conduct and sentenced him to a fine and court costs. Officers with ERO Boston arrested the Salvadoran national Feb. 20, 2009, Framingham, Massachusetts, and released on an order of supervision. ERO Boston placed the Salvadoran noncitizen into the Alternatives to Detention program and issued a departure plan. However, the Salvadoran national violated the terms of the ATD program. Officers from ERO Boston again apprehended the Salvadoran national May 18, 2010. ERO removed the Salvadoran noncitizen from the United States to El Salvador June 20, 2011. The Salvadoran noncitizen unlawfully re-entered the United States on an unknown date, at an unknown location and without inspection, admission or parole by a U.S. immigration official. Salvadoran authorities charged him July 11, 2011, with crimes against humanity and illegal trafficking of persons. Officers with ERO Boston arrested the fugitive Sept. 17 in Tisbury, Massachusetts. He remains in ERO custody. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Alternative to Detention program, which began in 2004, uses technology and case management to ensure noncitizen compliance with release conditions, court hearings, and final orders of removal. The program allows ICE to exercise increased supervision over a subset of those on ICE’s docket, using several different monitoring technologies. ATD effectively increases court appearance rates, compliance with release conditions, and helps the participants meet their basic needs and understand their immigration obligations. ATD – ISAP is not a form of custody as defined under 8 C.F.R. § 1236.1(d)(1) as it does not entail physical restraint or confinement within a given space. Some ATD – ISAP participants, however, may be assigned a limited curfew. Those who are released from custody and enrolled in ATD must comply with the terms and conditions of their release, including appearances at all scheduled court hearings and compliance with ATD requirements. Depending on the circumstances of the case, failure to comply may result in an immigration judge issuing a final order in absentia and may render a noncitizen a priority for arrest and removal by ICE. As with any noncitizen in the United States without lawful status, ICE officers make enforcement decisions on a case-by-case basis to focus on the greatest threats to homeland security in a professional and responsible manner informed by their experience as law enforcement officers. ERO conducts removals of individuals without a lawful basis to remain in the United States, including at the order of immigration judges with Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review. The Executive Office for Immigration Review is a separate entity from the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Immigration judges in these courts make decisions based on the merits of each individual case, determining if a noncitizen is subject to a final order of removal or eligible for certain forms of relief from removal. Members of the public with information regarding noncitizen offenders can report crimes or suspicious activity by dialing the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.