WOODBRIDGE, VA — A woman wanted for aggravated homicide in El Salvador is now in U.S. custody after federal immigration officers tracked her down in Northern Virginia, marking the second such arrest tied to Salvadoran fugitives in recent weeks. Idalia Isabel Morales-Mejia was arrested March 12 by ICE Washington, D.C. officers and is now facing immigration proceedings.
Morales-Mejia, described by authorities as an alleged associate of the MS-13 gang, had been charged in El Salvador since October 2013 with aggravated homicide and illicit association. Her arrest in Virginia follows new intelligence shared earlier this year about her possible location.
Fugitive Case Spanned More Than a Decade
Authorities say Morales-Mejia entered the United States without inspection at an unknown time and location, remaining in the country while facing unresolved homicide charges abroad.
In February, the Security Alliance for Fugitive Enforcement Task Force in El Salvador provided updated information that helped U.S. agents narrow down her whereabouts in Northern Virginia. ICE officers located and arrested her in Woodbridge, later serving her with a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge.
The arrest brings renewed attention to long-running international fugitive cases where suspects remain at large for years before being located through cross-border coordination.
Immigration Case Now Underway
Following her arrest, Morales-Mejia was placed into removal proceedings. While she has no known criminal history in the United States, federal officials emphasize that foreign charges—particularly violent ones—can still form the basis for immigration enforcement actions.
ICE Washington, D.C. Field Office Director Robert Guadian said the agency continues to prioritize locating individuals wanted for serious crimes abroad.
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Key Points
• Idalia Isabel Morales-Mejia arrested March 12 in Woodbridge, Virginia
• Wanted in El Salvador since 2013 for aggravated homicide and illicit association
• Now in ICE custody and facing immigration court proceedings
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Second Arrest Highlights Ongoing Effort
The arrest follows a similar case announced March 31, when ICE Washington officers apprehended another Salvadoran national, Marco Tulio Lopez-Romero, who is also wanted for aggravated homicide in El Salvador.
Officials say these cases reflect ongoing coordination between U.S. and international law enforcement agencies to locate fugitives accused of violent crimes.
Current Status
Morales-Mejia remains in ICE custody as her immigration case proceeds. A judge will determine whether she will be removed from the United States, potentially returning her to El Salvador to face the outstanding charges.