ICE, federal partners arrest criminal illegal alien from El Salvador convicted of murder

NEW YORK - Officers from ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations New York City and U.S. Customs and Border Protection arrested Jose Dimas Guerra Castro, a 53-year-old criminal illegal alien from El Salvador convicted of murder in 2017. ICE and CBP took Guerra into custody after a brief foot pursuit in Hempstead on Jan. 29. They took this murderer off of New York City streets shortly after New York Governor Kathy Hochul put her own citizens at risk by banning partnerships between ICE and state and local police.

"When ICE says we're arresting the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens, this is exactly who we mean," said ERO New York City Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo. "While politicians continue to prioritize criminal illegal aliens over law abiding New Yorkers, our officers are on the front lines every day keeping our communities safe from murderers, drug traffickers, child sex abusers and gang members. I commend their exceptional work and that of our partners for their diligence in getting this convicted murderer off the streets of New York."

Guerra illegally entered the U.S. on an unknown date and at an unknown location without inspection by immigration officials. The Hialeah Police Department in Miami-Dade County, Florida, arrested him in 2003 and charged him with homicide and second-degree murder with a deadly weapon. The 11th Judicial Circuit Court finally convicted him of second degree-murder in 2017 and sentenced him to up to 18 years in prison.

ERO Miami encountered Guerra at the Central Florida Reception Center on July 1, 2019, and lodged an immigration detainer with the Florida Department of Corrections against his release. The FDC honored the detainer and transferred him to ICE custody the following day as Guerra had fulfilled his sentencing requirement. ICE removed him to El Salvador July 26, 2019. At some point thereafter, he illegally reentered the country and made his way to New York City.

ICE successfully hunted down and arrested this convicted murderer. He is currently detained, without bond, in ICE custody. He is being presented for prosecution for illegal reentry as an aggravated felon in the Eastern District of New York.

ICE currently has immigration detainers lodged against more than 7,000 illegal aliens in New York, including murderers, sexual predators and other violent criminals. We are calling on New York to put public safety ahead of politics and honor these detainers. If you have information about criminal alien activity in your community, call the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE or complete the online tip form.

Learn more about ERO New York City's public safety mission on X at @ERONewYork.