Alexandria, Louisiana - A Salvadoran man illegally present in the United States, who is wanted in his home country for murder, was removed from the United States Friday by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Carlos Alejandro Hernandez, 23, was encountered July 11 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection near Rio Grande Valley, Texas, after he illegally crossed the border into the United States. On Oct. 5 an immigration judge ordered him removed from the United States.

Hernandez is charged with aggravated homicide in San Buenaventura, El Salvador, according to a warrant issued by the Court of Peace on August 14.

ERO Atlanta officers transferred Hernandez from the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Ga., Thursday. He was removed Friday via an ICE Air charter flight from Alexandria, La., to San Salvador, El Salvador, where he was then transferred into Salvadoran law enforcement custody.

"U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will continue to focus its removal resources on violent criminals and other high-priority aliens who pose the greatest threat to our communities," said ERO Atlanta Acting Field Office Director Chris Cronen.

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 the ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Office of International Affairs, foreign consular offices in the United States, and Interpol to identify foreign fugitives illegally present in the country.