ICE Houston officers deport Salvadoran gang member wanted for aggravated homicide
HOUSTON — A Salvadoran member of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang, wanted for aggravated homicide, was deported Tuesday by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Houston.
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.
Samuel Benjamin Hernandez-Santacruz, 26, was flown to El Salvador March 21 onboard a charter flight coordinated by ICE’s Air Operations (IAO) Unit. Upon arrival, Hernandez was turned over to officials from El Salvador’s Civilian National Police (PNC).
“Removing known gang members and foreign fugitives from the United States is an ICE priority,” said Patrick D. Contreras, field office director of ERO Houston. “The cooperation between the United States and Salvadoran governments resulted in this foreign fugitive being safely returned to his home country where he will stand trial for his alleged crimes.”
Hernandez was last arrested April 23, 2016, by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol after attempting to illegally enter the United States near Hebbronville, Texas. Hernandez was previously removed from the U.S. in April and July 2014. He was officially notified by ICE of the intent to reinstate his prior orders of deportation.
ICE obtained an El Salvador arrest warrant dated Nov. 10, 2015, stating that Hernandez is wanted for aggravated homicide.
This removal was part of ERO’s Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement (SAFE) Initiative. The SAFE Initiative is geared toward the identification of foreign fugitives who are wanted abroad and removable under U.S. immigration law. In just three years, through the SAFE Initiative, ERO has removed more than 600 criminal fugitives to El Salvador. Those removed as part of the SAFE Initiative have been deemed ineligible to remain in the United States and were all wanted by the Policia Nacional Civil (PNC). SAFE aligns with ERO’s public safety priorities and eliminates the need for formal extradition requests.
Since Oct. 1, 2009, ERO has removed more than 1,700 foreign fugitives from the United States who were sought in their native countries for serious crimes, including kidnapping, rape and murder. In fiscal year 2016, ICE conducted 240,255 removals nationwide. Ninety-two percent of individuals removed from the interior of the United States had previously been convicted of a criminal offense.
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.
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.
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