In June, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested Cristian Alberto Rivas-Escalante, a 29-year-old El Salvadoran national with an outstanding fugitive warrant from his home country. The arrest occurred at a work site on Marco Island, Florida, and was part of ongoing efforts under President Donald Trump’s directive to remove criminal aliens from the U.S.

Rivas-Escalante, classified as a “criminal alien,” is allegedly linked to the 18th Street Gang, a group known for its violent activities and rivalry with MS-13, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization.

According to ICE officials, Rivas-Escalante entered the U.S. illegally near Hidalgo, Texas, in December 2015. Although apprehended by Border Patrol, he was later granted bond by an immigration judge, allowing him to remain in the community during legal proceedings. Continues…