At first glance, the deportation looked routine—another enforcement action quietly carried out by federal authorities.
But as more details surfaced, the case raised troubling questions about how a man identified as a violent gang leader was able to enter the United States repeatedly over more than a decade, despite multiple deportations and international warrants.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that its Boston field office deported Wilmer Alexi Garcia-Manzanarez, an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador, according to a statement released on November 26.
ICE officials said Garcia-Manzanarez was a known leader of the MS-13 gang and was the subject of Interpol Red Notices tied to homicide investigations and alleged terrorist activity. Earlier this year, the U.S. State Department formally designated MS-13 as both a foreign terrorist organization and a specially designated global terrorist entity.
According to ICE, Garcia-Manzanarez was wanted by Salvadoran authorities and had accumulated an extensive criminal record in the United States. His convictions included burglary, intimidation with a weapon, driving under the influence, property damage, and operating a vehicle without a license.
Agents with ICE Boston arrested him on February 18, 2024, in Foxboro, Massachusetts. He was removed from the United States on November 3 and transferred to the custody of El Salvadoran officials.
Federal records show that Garcia-Manzanarez first entered the U.S. illegally in 2001 and was apprehended by Border Patrol. An immigration judge ordered his removal in 2002, but he failed to comply. ICE reported that he was deported three separate times between 2007 and 2012, only to unlawfully reenter the country after each removal.
David Wesling, acting field office director for ICE Boston, said the deportation removed a serious threat from local communities.
“Garcia-Manzanarez posed a significant danger to public safety,” Wesling said, adding that ICE would continue prioritizing the identification and removal of criminal offenders throughout New England.
The deportation comes amid heightened national scrutiny of immigration enforcement following a violent attack near the White House on November 26 that left two West Virginia National Guard members wounded. One later died from his injuries, while the other remains in critical condition.
Authorities identified the suspect as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, a 29-year-old Afghan national who entered the U.S. in 2021 under Operation Allies Welcome, the resettlement program created after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed that Lakanwal had previously worked with multiple U.S. government agencies during his time overseas.
In remarks delivered the same day, President Donald Trump condemned the attack and called for a review of individuals admitted under the Afghan resettlement initiative. He said the administration would reassess security screenings and pursue removals when individuals fail to meet national security or public interest standards.
Law enforcement officials say the incident reflects a broader pattern of rising threats. The Department of Homeland Security reported a sharp increase in assaults targeting ICE and Customs and Border Protection officers. Between January 21 and November 21, DHS recorded 238 assaults against ICE personnel—a 1,153 percent increase compared to the same period the previous year.
DHS officials cited attacks involving vehicles, firearms, rocks, Molotov cocktails, and other weapons, urging leaders to de-escalate rhetoric surrounding immigration enforcement.
Conclusion
The deportation of Wilmer Alexi Garcia-Manzanarez underscores the complex challenges facing immigration enforcement agencies—particularly when repeat illegal entries intersect with violent criminal activity.
While officials say his removal enhances public safety, the case also highlights persistent gaps in enforcement and screening that continue to fuel national debate. As violence involving both civilians and law enforcement escalates, questions surrounding border security, deportation effectiveness, and long-term policy solutions remain firmly in the spotlight.