ICE, U.S. Marshals, arrest Salvadoran terrorist in Carson City

CARSON CITY, Nev. – Officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) Fugitive Task Force, arrested Rene Antonio “Scrapy” Hernandez-Mejia, a Salvadoran national wanted in El Salvador, Jan. 8.

According to a USMS, Hernandez-Mejia was wanted for being part of the 18 Revolutionary Pandilla, a terrorist organization which is a faction of an El Salvadorian gang called Shadow Park Locos. It is alleged that this gang is involved with crimes such as homicide, extortion, and terrorization.

Officers from ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested Hernandez-Mejia for being illegally present in the United States. Hernandez-Mejia is currently in ICE custody and is expected to be deported to El Salvador to face local charges.

“ICE is committed to removing dangerous criminal aliens like Antonio Hernandez-Mejia from the community,” said Ernesto Santacruz, ICE ERO deputy field office director for Las Vegas. “This arrest is a testament to the strong partnerships between ICE and our local, state, federal and international law enforcement agencies. These coordinated efforts are crucial to public safety and help to expedite the removal of criminals from the streets.”

Nevada USMS Fugitive Task Force brings together the resources and expertise of state, local, and federal agencies in a coordinated effort to arrest dangerous and violent fugitives. The USMS Fugitive Task Force is comprised of Deputy U.S. Marshals, ICE-ERO officers, Washoe County District Attorney’s Office, Division of Investigations, Nevada Division of Parole and Probation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Nevada Department of Corrections, Office of the Inspector General, Nevada DMV Compliance and Enforcement Division, Nevada Gaming and Control Board, Storey County Sheriff’s Office and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

“The U.S. Marshals Service, along with ICE, an agency partner on the USMS Fugitive Task Force, are committed to keeping our community safe from any member of a terroristic organization, whether foreign or domestic,” said District of Nevada U.S. Marshal Gary Schofield.

ICE identifies, arrests, and removes aliens who present a danger to national security or are a risk to public safety, as well as those who enter the United States illegally or otherwise undermine the integrity of our immigration laws and our border control efforts.

ERO upholds America’s immigration laws at, within and beyond our borders through efficient enforcement and removal operations ERO enforces the nation’s immigration laws in a fair and effective manner. It identifies and apprehends removable aliens, detains these individuals when necessary and removes illegal aliens from the United States.