ICE Arrests Criminal Alien on El Salvador’s Most Wanted List

Seven out of 10 illegal immigrants arrested by ICE have been convicted or charged with a crime in the United States, according to DHS.

An image of Antonio Israel Lazo-Quintanilla. Courtesy of the Department of Homeland Security

A member of the 18th Street Gang on El Salvador’s most wanted gang members’ list was arrested by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last month, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a Nov. 10 statement.

Antonio Israel Lazo-Quintanilla, an illegal immigrant, is wanted in “El Salvador for aggravated homicide, extortion, possession of drugs, and a litany of other felonies,” the agency said.

The 18th Street Gang was designated as a foreign terrorist organization and a specially designated global terrorist by the State Department in September. The gang has attacked civilians, public officials, and security personnel in El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala, it said.

According to the DHS, 70 percent of illegal immigrants arrested by ICE have either been charged with a crime in the United States or convicted of one. The statistic does not count terrorists, human rights abusers, foreign fugitives, and gang members who lack a rap sheet in the United States, the agency said.

Tricia McLaughlin, DHS’s assistant secretary for public affairs, said that Lazo-Quintanilla’s arrest was a “perfect example” of ICE authorities targeting the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal immigrants.

“He may lack a violent rap sheet in the U.S. but this criminal illegal alien is clearly a public safety threat. The media’s false claims that ICE is not arresting the worst of the worst simply has no grounding. In reality, ICE is arresting criminal illegal aliens BEFORE they can victimize Americans,” McLaughlin said.

The Epoch Times was unable to reach the legal representatives for Lazo-Quintanilla.

The Trump administration has taken action against multiple illegal immigrants affiliated with the 18th Street Gang.

On Aug. 13, ICE announced that a leader of the gang wanted for a “murderous crime spree” in Honduras was deported from the United States.

In June, the U.S. Secret Service said that eight members and associates of the group were charged with racketeering crimes in Queens, New York City. The arrested individuals were allegedly involved in “brutal assaults,” drug trafficking, and extortion, it said.

In March, the Department of Justice announced that several members of the gang were sentenced for their roles in various violent crimes.

The administration’s actions have been criticized by Democrats.

Last month, a group of Democratic senators demanded that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assisting ICE wear and activate body cameras when conducting civil immigration enforcement operations in Illinois, according to an Oct. 17 statement from the office of Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.). This is in line with agency policy and an order from a federal court, the office said.

On Oct. 16, Judge Sara L. Ellis of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois issued an order requiring federal law enforcement officers who take part in the removal of illegals in the Chicago area to wear body cameras during such activities.

In its Nov. 10 statement, the DHS criticized negative media coverage of ICE enforcement.

“Despite the clear and present danger posed by criminal illegal aliens, the mainstream media continues to whip up violence against ICE and DHS law enforcement by falsely claiming DHS is not targeting the worst of the worst,” the agency said.

“Many illegal aliens who the media claim are ‘non-criminals’ are actually gang members, terrorists, human rights abusers, and foreign fugitives who lack a rap sheet in the U.S.”

On Oct. 30, the DHS said that ICE law enforcement officers were facing an 8,000 percent jump in death threats.

“From bounties placed on their heads for their murders, threats to their families, stalking, and doxing online, our officers are experiencing an unprecedented level of violence and threats against them and their families,” McLaughlin said.