U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced on Apr. 7 the arrest of Marco Tulio Lopez-Romero, a Salvadoran national wanted for aggravated homicide in El Salvador, in Reston, Virginia.
Lopez-Romero, age 44, had entered the United States illegally near McAllen, Texas in July 2016. Authorities in El Salvador issued an arrest warrant for him on Dec. 6, 2017 related to a homicide charge. ICE officers located and arrested Lopez-Romero outside his home during the last week of March. He is currently being held by ICE while removal proceedings are pending.
Robert Guadian, Field Office Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), commented on the case: “Marco Tulio Lopez-Romero is exactly the type of illegal alien fugitive that ICE will not allow to roam free in our communities.”
Guadian also addressed how some may view such cases: “Shockingly, the media would consider Lopez to be a ‘non-criminal’ because he lacks a rap sheet in the U.S.—despite the fact that authorities in El Salvador have issued a warrant for him on charges of aggravated homicide.”
Guadian said ICE Washington, D.C., remains focused on public safety through such arrests: “The men and women of ICE Washington, D.C. will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing criminal alien offenders from the streets of our Washington, D.C. and Virginia neighborhoods.”
The agency has not provided further details about when removal proceedings may conclude or if additional charges are expected.
