U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced Thursday it arrested a man federal officials identify as an MS-13 gang leader wanted for murder in El Salvador during an operation in Alexandria on October 2.
According to the ICE press release, Ismael Enrique Mendoza Flores, also known as “El Calaco,” faces an active arrest warrant in El Salvador for aggravated homicide and illicit associations. ICE states he appears on the Salvadoran National Police’s “Most Wanted Gang Members” list, though the agency did not provide documentation or a link to verify this listing.
A search of Interpol’s Red Notices database on Friday returned no results for Mendoza Flores. Interpol Red Notices are requests to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest individuals pending extradition for serious crimes.
The press release states the arrest came approximately five weeks after Alexandria authorities detained Mendoza Flores on August 23 for unauthorized use of a vehicle. However, a review of Alexandria Police Department crime reports from that date shows no case specifically listed as “unauthorized use of a vehicle.”
Alexandria’s police database includes 18 reported incidents on August 23, ranging from larceny and assault to DWI arrests, but none explicitly match the charge described by ICE. It’s possible the charge falls under one of several cases listed as “All Other Offenses,” or that the incident was classified differently in local records.
ICE did not explain why Mendoza Flores would have been released after the August arrest if he was already wanted on an international murder warrant, or how he remained in the area for more than a month before being taken into custody by federal agents.
Local law enforcement officials have previously told ALXnow they do not participate in immigration enforcement. “The Alexandria Police Department is not involved in federal immigration enforcement, nor does the police department receive notification of Federal ICE enforcement,” a department spokesperson said in August.
Similarly, Sheriff Sean Casey’s office told ALXnow in August that “the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office does not and will not participate in any type of immigration enforcement in our community.” However, Virginia law requires sheriffs to determine the citizenship of individuals arrested on felony charges and share this information with ICE. The Sheriff’s Office transfers custody of inmates to ICE on their scheduled release date when ICE has filed a lawful warrant and detainer.
The press release did not specify where in Alexandria the October 2 arrest occurred or provide information about how the suspect was located.
“Our brave men and women of ICE arrested one of El Salvador’s Most Wanted Fugitives off of the streets of Virginia,” said Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin in the release. “This MS-13 gang member was wanted for murder.”
McLaughlin oversees DHS communications strategy and previously served in communications roles for Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, according to the DHS website.
According to the press release, Mendoza Flores claims he entered the United States as a juvenile in 2015. ICE did not provide documentation to verify this claim, explain his immigration status over the past decade, or indicate whether he had any prior encounters with law enforcement during that time.
The press release does not clarify whether Mendoza Flores has been charged with any crimes in the United States beyond the vehicle-related offense, or whether he will face charges domestically before potential extradition to El Salvador. ICE did not provide information about his current detention location or legal proceedings.
McLaughlin’s statement included criticism of unnamed Virginia politicians, saying “sanctuary politicians across Virginia are protecting” criminal undocumented immigrants while demonizing law enforcement. The release did not specify which Virginia policies or officials were being referenced.
Alexandria does not have a formal sanctuary city designation.
The Department of Homeland Security stated in its release that the agency would continue law enforcement operations despite what it characterized as “the Democrats’ government shutdown.”
ALXnow reached out to ICE for additional details but did not receive responses by publication time.
This is a developing story.
