ICE Philadelphia removes dangerous MS-13 gang leader wanted for heinous Crimes in El Salvador

PHILADELPHIA - ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations Philadelphia successfully removed criminal alien Jose Alberto Zamora-Zamora, a 31-year-old citizen of El Salvador, to his home country on Aug. 15. Zamora-Zamora, who goes by the street name "Pirana," is a notorious leader of the MS-13 Fulton Locos Salvatruchos clique and is listed among El Salvador's top 100 most wanted gang members. His removal marks a critical victory in ICE's ongoing mission to protect the American people from dangerous foreign fugitives.

"Jose Alberto Zamora-Zamora is a violent criminal and a leader of one of the world's most dangerous gangs. His presence in our communities was a direct threat to public safety," said ERO Philadelphia Field Office Director Brian McShane. "Let this serve as a clear warning: if you are a foreign fugitive who comes to the United States to evade justice, ERO will find you, arrest you, and remove you. ICE will not allow dangerous criminals to exploit our immigration system or endanger the American people."

Zamora-Zamora is wanted in El Salvador for a number of violent crimes, including aggravated kidnapping, illicit association, attempted aggravated homicide, aggravated extortion, aggravated homicide, aggravated deprivation of liberty, involvement in terrorist organizations and conspiracy to murder. His criminal record and leadership role in one of the world's most violent transnational criminal organizations posed a significant threat to public safety in the United States and abroad.

ERO Philadelphia apprehended Zamora-Zamora upon his release from Federal Correctional Institution Allenwood Low in Allenwood, Pennsylvania, where he had been serving a 24-month sentence for unlawful reentry into the U.S. Zamora-Zamora had previously been removed from the U.S. in December 2022 but illegally reentered the country at an unknown date and location. His repeated disregard for U.S. immigration laws underscores his dangerous lack of respect for the U.S. laws.

The removal operation required close collaboration between ERO Philadelphia, ERO New Orleans, the U.S. Marshals Service, INTERPOL, and ICE's Assistant Attaché for Removals in El Salvador.

ICE remains steadfast in its mission to identify, arrest, and remove individuals who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security. The agency will continue to leverage its resources and partnerships to uphold the integrity of U.S. immigration laws and protect the communities it serves.