Washington, DC - Two subjects of Interpol Red Notices for violent crimes in their home country of El Salvador were removed from the United States Friday by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
Wilber Antonio Hernandez-Hernandez, 32, an alleged MS-13 gang member, was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice for sexual assault charges. Carlos Ulises Mendoza-Mendoza, 23, was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice for aggravated homicide. Both departed Alexandria International Airport in Louisiana on an ICE Air Operations charter flight and arrived at San Salvador International Airport in El Salvador where they were transferred to the custody of the Policia Nacional Civil (PNC).
Hernandez illegally entered the United States at an unknown location and date. ERO officers arrested him in October in Herndon, Virginia, and issued him a notice to appear in immigration court. In March, an immigration judge ordered Hernandez removed from the United States to El Salvador.
Mendoza illegally entered the United States in March 2013 near Penitas, Texas. ERO officers took custody of Mendoza and issued him a notice to appear in immigration court after he was arrested by the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department in August. In February, an immigration judge ordered Mendoza removed from the United States to El Salvador.
“Our officers dutifully uphold U.S. immigration laws, ensuring that individuals who serve as public safety threats to our communities cannot remain in our country,” said Yvonne Evans, field office director for ERO Washington, D.C.
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 PNC.
SAFE aligns with ERO’s public safety priorities and eliminates the need for formal extradition requests.
