ICE deports Salvadoran gang member linked to three murders for the third time

The United States deported a wanted Salvadoran gang member linked to several murders in his home country for the third time, immigration officials said on Tuesday. 

Noe David Alvarez Escamilla, 24, is an 18th Street gang member Alvarez who is wanted in El Salvador in connection to three homicides and illegal association. 

The migrant crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally for the first time at an unknown date and location but was caught by Border Patrol agents near Eagle Pass, Texas on September 11, 2019. After being processed, he was deported back to El Salvador on December 2 of the same year. 

He then re-entered the U.S. by crossing the border again on May 7, 2022, when he was immediately caught by Texas officials and deported to Mexico. 

It is unknown when Alvarez Escamilla returned to the U.S. before he was caught once again by immigration officials in Houston. 

The third time Alvarez Escamilla was caught, he was flown from Alexandria, Louisiana to the Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport in San Salvador in a charter flight coordinated by ICE’s Air Operations Unit, U.S. Immigration, and Customs Enforcement said. Upon arrival, he was turned over to officials from El Salvador’s Civilian National Police. 

"The apprehension and removal of foreign fugitives who have illegally entered the U.S. to avoid criminal prosecution in another country continues to be a high priority for ERO (Enforcement Removal Operations) Houston," said ERO Houston acting Field Office Director Gabriel Martinez.