ICE Arrests Salvadoran Fugitive Who Has Long Criminal History
In June, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Cristian Alberto Rivas-Escalante in Marco Island, Florida. The 29-year-old from El Salvador had an outstanding fugitive warrant from his home country. This arrest was part of ongoing operations under President Donald Trump’s directive to remove criminal aliens from the United States.
Rivas-Escalante is classified as a criminal alien and is allegedly associated with the violent 18th Street Gang. This group is a known rival of MS-13, which is designated by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization.
According to officials, he initially entered the U.S. illegally near Hidalgo, Texas, in December 2015. Although apprehended by Border Patrol at that time, an immigration judge later granted him bond, permitting him to remain in the community.
His recent arrest was a targeted operation, not a broad raid. It was conducted by ICE’s Fugitive Operations Team with support from multiple federal and local law enforcement agencies. Authorities stressed the action was due to his specific criminal history.
Under the Trump administration, ICE enforcement has significantly increased. As of June 1, over 51,000 individuals were in detention, exceeding the agency’s funded capacity.
This expansion was supported by the recent passage of the Big, Beautiful Bill. The legislation granted ICE tens of billions in additional dollars to fund its operations.
Rivas-Escalante will face immigration proceedings before his expected deportation to El Salvador. In a related matter, Arizona State Senator Analise Ortiz is facing backlash and a potential obstruction of justice investigation for allegedly warning residents about ICE activity.
