Reston, VA — A 44-year-old man wanted for aggravated homicide in El Salvador was arrested outside his home in Reston on March 31, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said, placing him in custody pending deportation proceedings.
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Washington, D.C. identified the man as Marco Tulio Lopez-Romero, who authorities say had an active homicide warrant issued in his home country prior to his arrest in Northern Virginia.
Arrest follows effort to locate fugitive in D.C. region
According to ICE, officers developed information that Lopez-Romero was living in the Washington, D.C. area and carried out a targeted operation during the final week of March to locate him.
He was taken into custody without incident outside his residence in Reston, the agency said. ICE did not report any additional U.S.-based criminal charges tied to Lopez-Romero at the time of his arrest.
Authorities in El Salvador issued a warrant for Lopez-Romero on Dec. 6, 2017, accusing him of aggravated homicide, according to ICE.
Immigration history and custody status
ICE said Lopez-Romero entered the United States in July 2016 near McAllen, Texas. The agency did not provide further details about his immigration proceedings prior to the arrest.
He remains in ICE custody as removal proceedings move forward, officials said. The agency did not indicate whether extradition to El Salvador is being pursued in connection with the homicide charge.
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Key Points
• ICE arrested a 44-year-old Salvadoran man in Reston wanted for aggravated homicide in El Salvador
• Authorities say he entered the U.S. in 2016 and had a warrant issued in 2017
• He remains in ICE custody pending the outcome of immigration removal proceedings
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Agency emphasizes focus on foreign fugitives
ERO Washington, D.C. Field Office Director Robert Guadian said the arrest reflects ICE’s priority on locating individuals wanted for serious crimes outside the United States.
“Marco Tulio Lopez-Romero is exactly the type of illegal alien fugitive that ICE will not allow to roam free in our communities,” Guadian said in a statement.
Guadian noted that individuals with foreign warrants may not appear in statistics tracking U.S.-based criminal histories, even when they face serious allegations abroad.
Context around foreign warrants
Cases involving individuals wanted in other countries can present legal and procedural complexities, particularly when no domestic criminal charges are filed in the United States.
Foreign arrest warrants do not automatically result in U.S. criminal prosecution, but they may influence immigration enforcement priorities and detention decisions.
ICE did not provide details on coordination with Salvadoran authorities beyond confirming the existence of the warrant.
What happens next
Lopez-Romero remains in ICE custody as immigration court proceedings determine whether he will be removed from the United States. Officials have not released a timeline for those proceedings or confirmed whether he will be transferred to Salvadoran authorities.
No additional updates on his case status have been announced.