El Paso Standard

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has removed Wilver Cota-Ortiz, a 43-year-old citizen of El Salvador, who is wanted for human trafficking in his home country. Cota was deported to El Salvador after his illegal entry into the U.S. was discovered for the third time, according to ICE officials.

Cota initially entered the U.S. without proper inspection and was first arrested by the Dallas Police Department on January 9, 2010, for assault with a deadly weapon. Following his conviction on two counts of assault by the 195th Judicial District Court in Dallas on April 1, 2010, he was sentenced to eight years of probation. After serving his sentence, he was deported to El Salvador on December 17, 2010.

He reentered the U.S. illegally at an undisclosed time and was apprehended again by U.S. Border Patrol on August 6, 2013, in Otay Mesa, California. During this time, it was revealed he violated his probation in Dallas. Cota was sentenced to two years in prison by the 195th Judicial District Court for this violation. He was deported once more to El Salvador on December 18, 2015.

Cota's unauthorized reentry into the U.S. occurred yet again at an unknown date and place. ICE arrested him on February 15, 2023, for illegal reentry. The U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware convicted him of this charge on October 31, 2023, sentencing him to nine months in prison. While serving his sentence, it was uncovered that he was wanted in El Salvador for human trafficking. His deportation was executed without incident on April 4.

“ICE will make every effort to arrest those that have fled to the U.S. to evade justice in their home country,” stated ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Seattle Interim Field Office Director Cammilla H. Wamsley. “The seriousness of these charges places a particular importance on that mission.”

Members of the public with information about foreign fugitives are encouraged to contact ICE through their tip line or via the online tip form. Further details on ICE's mission to enhance public safety are available on their social media account.