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November 18, 2014Houston, TX, United StatesEnforcement and Removal

ICE Houston officers deport Salvadoran man wanted for aggravated homicide

HOUSTON — A Salvadoran man wanted for aggravated homicide in his home country and membership in the violent MS-13 street gang was deported Wednesday by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

This removal is the latest result of stepped up collaborative efforts to locate Salvadoran criminal fugitives in the United States and return them to El Salvador to face justice.

Milton Xavier Zometa, 28, was flown to El Salvador Nov. 19 onboard a charter flight coordinated by ICE’s Air Operations (IAO) Unit. Upon arrival, Zometa was turned over to officials from the El Salvador’s Policia Nacional Civil (PNC).

“Identifying and removing foreign fugitives from the United States is an ICE priority,” said Steven P. Boll, field office director of ERO Houston. “The cooperation between the United States and the El Salvadoran government resulted in this foreign fugitive being safely returned to his home country where he can face justice.”

Zometa was encountered Sept 8 by Houston Police Department’s Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force and turned over to ICE without incident. An Interpol warrant revealed that he was wanted by Salvadoran officials for aggravated homicide and membership in MS-13. On Oct. 21, a federal immigration judge ordered Zometa to be removed to El Salvador.

Zometa’s deportation is another example of expanded bi-national cooperation to identify, arrest and repatriate Salvadoran criminal suspects who have fled to the United States to avoid prosecution. ICE officers are working closely with the PNC, the Salvadoran National Interpol Office and Salvadoran Immigration as part of this effort.

ICE Air History:

ICE routinely uses special air charters to transport aliens who have final orders of removal from an immigration judge. Staffed by ICE ERO Air Operations officers, these air charters enable the agency to repatriate large groups of deportees in an efficient, expeditious and humane manner.

In fiscal year 2014, ICE returned 163 criminals with active PNC arrest warrants to El Salvador via ICE removal flights. Many of those arrested were accused of homicide-related charges or other violent crimes.

Since 2006, ICE Air Operations has supported ERO by providing mass air transportation and removal coordination services to ERO field offices nationwide. Staffed by ERO officers, these air charters enable the agency to repatriate large groups of deportees in an efficient, expeditious and humane manner.

Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 720 foreign fugitives from the United States who were being sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder.  ERO works with ICE's Office of International Operations, foreign consular offices in the United States, and Interpol to identify foreign fugitives illegally present in the country.

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