The recent removal of Maria Idalia Aguilera-De Menjivar, a 53-year-old Salvadoran fugitive with ties to a terrorist organization, highlights the ongoing efforts of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to ensure public safety and uphold immigration laws. Aguilera was apprehended by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Houston field office, in collaboration with ERO El Salvador and the Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement Task Force, and was successfully repatriated to El Salvador on July 26.
Aguilera’s illegal entry into the United States and subsequent involvement with the 18th Street Gang in El Salvador posed a direct threat to public safety. Despite being ordered for removal by an immigration judge in 2018, Aguilera absconded from immigration authorities while awaiting a decision on her appeal. It was not until April 30, 2024, that ERO Houston Fugitive Operations officers were able to track her down and arrest her at a residence in Houston.
The collaborative efforts of ERO Houston, along with foreign and domestic law enforcement partners, demonstrate a commitment to identifying, apprehending, and removing individuals who pose a threat to public safety. By repatriating Aguilera to El Salvador, ICE has effectively removed a dangerous fugitive from the local community and returned her to her country of origin.
The SAFE Program, established in 2012, plays a crucial role in fugitive enforcement and information sharing partnerships. This program utilizes subject information from local investigative resources to locate, apprehend, detain, and remove individuals residing in the United States illegally who are subject to foreign arrest warrants. The SAFE Program operates under the respective host nation’s AAR, ensuring compliance with program policies and standards.
As part of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, ERO is responsible for domestic immigration enforcement, focusing on interior enforcement operations, managing detained and non-detained populations, and repatriating noncitizens with final orders of removal. With a workforce of over 7,700 personnel across domestic field offices, overseas postings, and temporary duty assignments along the border, ERO plays a critical role in safeguarding U.S. communities and upholding immigration laws.
Members of the public are encouraged to report information about foreign fugitives to ICE through the ICE Tip Line or online tip form. By working together with law enforcement agencies and the community, ICE continues to prioritize public safety and national security through effective immigration enforcement measures. Follow ERO Houston on social media for updates on their immigration enforcement mission in Southeast Texas.