ICE removes human trafficking suspect wanted in El Salvador

PHILADELPHIA — Deportation officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) removed a Salvadoran fugitive Wednesday who was wanted in his home country on charges of trafficking illegal persons.

Manuel Humberto Guillen-Galdamez, 28, departed the U.S. from Alexandria International Airport in Alexandria, Louisiana, and ERO transferred him to Salvadoran law enforcement authorities without incident at Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport (MSLP) in San Salvador, El Salvador.

On Dec. 20, 2017, U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) arrested Guillen-Galdamez near Brownsville, Texas, for violating U.S. immigration laws and served him with a notice and order of expedited removal. The next day, USBP transferred Mr. Guillen-Galdamez to ERO San Antonio custody where he was detained at the Rio Grande Detention Center in Laredo, Texas.

On Dec. 26, 2017, USBP informed ERO San Antonio that Guillen-Galdamez had an active arrest warrant for trafficking illegal persons issued by Salvadoran law enforcement authorities. He was transferred the following month to the custody of ERO Philadelphia.

Over the next several months, his case made its way through the U.S. immigration system. On Aug. 24, 2018, an immigration judge ordered Mr. Guillen-Galdamez removed to El Salvador, and he waived his right to appeal.