A Salvadoran fugitive, Wilmer Alexy Garcia-Manzanarez, who is affiliated with the infamous MS-13 gang and is wanted for murder in his home country, was apprehended by the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Boston in Foxboro on February 19.
This marks the fourth time the 44-year-old has been detained by U.S. immigration authorities.
Todd Lyons, ERO Boston Field Office Director, hailed the arrest as a significant stride in ensuring community safety. "This unlawfully present fugitive is a member of a violent transnational criminal organization who is wanted for murder in his home country," Lyons stated. He further added, "The people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are safer today now that this fugitive criminal has been arrested. ERO Boston continues to help make our communities safer by our unwavering commitment to protecting public safety every day."
The Boston Herald reported that Garcia-Manzanarez was identified through a "Red Notice" from INTERPOL, the International Criminal Police Organization based in France, issued at El Salvador's request. The notice describes his charges in Spanish as "Organizaciones terroristas."
Garcia-Manzanarez first illegally entered the U.S. across the Canadian border in New York in March 2001. After failing to appear before an immigration judge, he was ordered removed in absentia in March 2002 and was eventually deported in January 2007 by ERO Phoenix. He reentered the U.S. in May 2010, was arrested in Texas, and was deported for the second time in July that year. His third unlawful entry led to another arrest in September 2012 and subsequent removal the following month.
Despite these removals, Garcia-Manzanarez illegally reentered the U.S. and resided in Massachusetts until his recent arrest by ERO Boston. He is currently in ICE custody awaiting his removal proceedings. If deported, this would be his fourth removal.
ERO reported that in the fiscal year 2023, they made 170,590 administrative arrests, marking a 19.5% increase from the previous year. Among those arrested, 73,822 were noncitizens with a criminal history, averaging four charges and convictions per individual. This included over 33,209 charges or convictions for assault, 7,520 for weapons offenses, 1,713 for homicide-related offenses, and 1,615 for kidnapping. Removals also included 3,406 known or suspected gang members, 139 known or suspected terrorists, seven human rights violators, and 108 foreign fugitives wanted by their governments for crimes including homicide, rape, terrorism, and kidnapping. ERO conducted 142,580 removals to more than 170 countries worldwide in the fiscal year 2023.
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