ICE arrested a Salvadoran gang member wanted for crimes in El Salvador after a car chase in Virginia that ended in a crash. Javier Enrique Canas-Escobar, 31, a member of the 18th Street gang, was apprehended in Bealeton, Va., more than 50 miles from Washington D.C. following the collision on May 22.
Known as “Caquillo” in the gang, Canas-Escobar collided with another vehicle after veering into oncoming traffic before being captured by ICE and Virginia State Police. He faces charges including assaulting law enforcement officers, eluding, hit and runs, property destruction, and more.
Canas-Escobar illegally entered the US and now faces deportation to El Salvador to face firearms charges there. ICE has requested an immigration detainer with the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office.
No injuries were reported in the car chase, but Canas-Escobar was briefly treated at a local hospital. Salvadoran authorities had requested his extradition on May 16.
President Trump’s border czar Tom Homan stated that approximately 139,000 illegal immigrants were deported in the administration’s first 100 days, with as many as 700,000 individuals with criminal charges still in the US.
Recent high-profile deportations of alleged gang members to El Salvador have faced legal challenges. The White House has directed ICE to increase its daily arrest quota to speed up deportations.
ICE recently underwent a leadership realignment to support increased deportation efforts.
