An El Salvador man, Francisco Javier Melendez Torres, who was wanted for sex crimes involving a minor in his home country, has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Philadelphia. Melendez Torres was wanted by law enforcement in El Salvador for aggravated rape of a minor and sexual harassment.
ICE removed Melendez Torres on Jan. 31 after he entered the United States illegally and had a final order of removal issued in December 2024. Brian McShane, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations acting Philadelphia field office director, emphasized the dangers individuals like Melendez Torres pose to communities.
Melendez Torres was first arrested by U.S. Border Patrol in 1986 near Rio Grande, Texas, and was granted voluntary departure but failed to leave by the required date. He returned to the U.S. and was convicted of driving while impaired in Hempstead, New York, in 1994. Subsequently, he was convicted of disorderly conduct in 2014.
ICE arrested Melendez Torres in Levittown, New York, on Oct. 25, 2024, during a targeted enforcement action. An immigration judge ordered his removal on Dec. 12, 2024. Despite this order, Melendez Torres remained in the U.S. until ICE Philadelphia apprehended him on Jan. 31.
McShane reiterated ICE's commitment to ensuring that dangerous individuals like Melendez Torres do not find safe harbor in the U.S. and do not pose a threat to American citizens. The case of Melendez Torres underscores the importance of immigration enforcement in safeguarding communities from individuals with criminal backgrounds.
