Five illegal aliens from El Salvador, currently wanted in their home country for various serious offenses, were deported last week by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations officers.
The fugitives were flown on a charter flight from the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston to the Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport in San Salvador, El Salvador. After landing, they were arrested by Policia Nacional Civil officers.
Four of the fugitives are known members of the transnational criminal street gang MS-13.
They entered the United States between Dec. 21, 2015, and last month. It is unknown, however, when the fifth fugitive entered the country.
The five fugitives, who range in age from 20 to 26 years old, include Milessa Carolina Cortez-Granados who was wanted for attempted aggravated murder and terrorist organizations. She was previously removed Nov. 12, 2009.
Additionally, Jose David Umanzor-Hernandez was wanted for aggravated homicide and criminal associations. Kevin Brandon Aragon Luna was wanted for terrorist organizations. Pedro Antonio Cruz Rodriguez was wanted for aggravated homicide, terrorist organizations and aggravated deprivation of liberty. Ever Rafael Roca-Ruiz was wanted for aggravated homicide.
ICE removed or returned 226,119 aliens in fiscal year 2017, a 10 percent increase from 2016.