ICE busts Salvadoran gangbanger from violent 18th Street gang after wild car chase
ICE Arrests Salvadoran Gang Member Wanted for Crimes in Wild Car Chase
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently made a significant arrest in Virginia, apprehending a Salvadoran gang member wanted for crimes in his home country after a wild car chase. Javier Enrique Canas-Escobar, 31, also known as “Caquillo” in the 18th Street gang, was involved in a multi-car crash on May 22 in Bealeton, Virginia, which led to his capture.
Canas-Escobar, who is already facing charges of illegal firearms possession in El Salvador, was driving recklessly during the chase, ultimately crashing into another vehicle and totaling his car. He was charged with two felony counts of assaulting law enforcement officers, eluding, hit and runs, driving on the wrong side of the highway, property destruction, and failure to obey a stop sign by state authorities.
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) DC field office director Russell Hott emphasized that Canas-Escobar posed a significant threat to the Virginia community and must face the charges against him before being removed to El Salvador to face firearms charges there. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Canas-Escobar illegally entered the US without inspection, admission, or parole.
Following his arrest, ICE lodged an immigration detainer request with the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office in Warrenton. Although no injuries were reported during the car chase, Canas-Escobar was briefly treated at a local hospital. Salvadoran authorities had requested his extradition on May 16.
The Trump administration’s border czar, Tom Homan, previously mentioned that approximately 139,000 illegal immigrants were deported in the first 100 days of the administration. However, there are still around 700,000 individuals with criminal charges residing in the US. The administration’s efforts to deport more individuals have faced legal challenges, particularly in high-profile cases involving alleged gang members like Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
In response to the White House’s directive to increase deportation quotas, ICE has undergone a leadership realignment to support the effort. The agency is now tasked with ramping up its daily arrests from 1,800 to 3,000 to expedite deportations. This shift in focus aims to address the ongoing challenges posed by criminal elements within the country and enhance public safety.
