EL PASO, Texas - Officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) removed a fugitive alien to El Salvador on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020, where he is wanted for gang membership. He is a member of the Mara Salvatrucha-MS13 transnational gang.

Jose Manuel Castro Orellana, 30, a citizen of El Salvador, was removed aboard an ICE Air Operations Charter flight without incident. Once in El Salvador, ICE ERO officers transferred custody of Castro Orellana to the Policia Nacional Civil (PNC) of El Salvador who will pursue criminal charges against him.

Castro Orellana illegally entered the United States on Feb. 28, 2019, by walking across the U.S.-Mexico border east of the Santa Teresa, New Mexico, Port of Entry.

This is at least the second time he is arrested after illegally entering the United States. On April 18, 2016, he was processed as an Expedited Removal and ordered removed from the United States in Laredo, Texas. He departed the country on April 28, 2016.

Illegally reentering the United States after being lawfully removed is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

After his most recent illegal entry, he was processed as a Reinstatement of a Prior Order of Removal, prosecuted for Reentry After Removal, and subsequently convicted on April 1, 2019.

“Removing these individuals who have proven to be a danger to the community is a priority for ICE. We want them off our streets, and out of the country,” said Corey A. Price, field office director for ERO El Paso. “The courageous men and women of ICE ERO take seriously their mission to protect America from those who have no intention of being productive members of society.”