U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported that an arrest was made in Maryland on January 25th. The individual in custody is an undocumented Salvadoran national who is believed to be a member of MS-13.
ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Baltimore arrested Anderson Geovany Romero, 19, in Hyattsville after his release from the Prince George’s Detention Center. Romero had been taken into custody by the Prince George’s County Police Department on January 21 for possessing a loaded handgun. Despite ERO Baltimore lodging an immigration detainer with the detention center on the same day, Romero was still released.
Romero has had previous encounters with law enforcement. On July 11, 2015, he was arrested by the U.S. Border Patrol near Roma, Texas, and received a notice to appear. Subsequently, he was transferred into the custody of ERO. More recently, in July 2021, Romero was arrested by the Ocean City Police Department in Maryland for possessing an open container of alcohol. He was convicted of this offense in August 2021.
Romero was ordered to be deported to El Salvador by a Baltimore Department of Justice immigration judge on April 24, 2023, due to his failure to attend his immigration hearing.
“MS-13’s designation as a terrorist organization highlights the grave threat it poses to public safety. The arrest of Romero sends a clear message: ICE is unwavering in its commitment to protecting our nation’s communities,” said ERO Baltimore acting Field Office Director Matthew Elliston. “Removing egregious criminal aliens from our Maryland streets is a win for law-abiding residents and a critical step toward ensuring safer neighborhoods. I commend the relentless dedication of our officers in prioritizing public safety and upholding immigration law.”
