Reputed MS-13 Gang Member Deported By Denver ICE Agents

DENVER, CO — A 23-year-old El Salvadoran alleged gang member fugitive wanted on an Interpol warrant was deported to El Salvador, according to Denver's U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) branch.

Oscar Antonio Rosas-Alas, 23, was arrested on Mar. 19, 2018 in Eagle County by ICE deportation officers. He was wanted by Interpol for "aggravated extortion" and was described in the warrant as "being armed and dangerous, an escape risk and having violent tendencies," a press release from ICE said. Rosas-Alas was "associated with the Mara Salvatrucha gang, more commonly known as MS-13," the press release said.

“Our ICE officers aggressively work to remove dangerous criminal aliens from the United States, such as Rosas-Alas,” said Jeffrey D. Lynch, field office director for Enforcement and Removal Operations in Denver in a statement. “ICE prioritizes removing known gang members and fugitive criminal aliens so they can face justice in their home country.”

Authorities said Rosas-Alas illegally entered the United States near McAllen, Texas, in 2016. He eventually made his way to Colorado where he "gained the attention of local peace officers," the agency said.

Rosas-Alas was flown Wednesday on an ICE Air Operations charter flight to Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport in San Salvador, El Salvador, the agency said. In El Salvador, Rosas-Alas was arrested by El Salvador’s Policia Nacional Civil (PNC).

ICE removed or returned 258,085 aliens in fiscal year 2018, the agency said. Enforcement and removal operations reported they arrested 158,581 undocumented immigrants, "90 percent of whom had criminal convictions, pending criminal charges, or previously issued final orders." The overall arrest figure represents an 11 percent increase over fiscal year 2017, the agency said.

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