BALTIMORE, MD – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 26-year-old Nelson Vladimir Amaya-Benitez, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador and a validated MS-13 gang member, on May 12 in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Amaya has a long criminal record, including convictions for robbery, motor vehicle theft, and malicious burning.
Amaya had previously been deported in 2019 but reentered the U.S. illegally at an unknown location and time. Since then, he has been arrested multiple times across Maryland and Texas. Despite ICE lodging at least five immigration detainers, the Montgomery County Detention Center repeatedly declined to honor them, allowing Amaya to be released and reoffend.
“This individual repeatedly jeopardized public safety. ICE detainers were ignored, and he was released back into our communities,” said Nikita Baker, acting Field Office Director for ICE Baltimore. “This pattern is unacceptable.”
Amaya’s criminal history includes:
2016: Convicted in Texas for marijuana possession and unauthorized use of a vehicle.
2017: Arrested for armed robbery in Montgomery County; sentenced to 10 years, with 18 months served.
2023: Convictions for motor vehicle theft, malicious burning, and rogue and vagabond in Maryland.
2024: Convicted of attempted vehicle theft; sentenced to three years, with most of it suspended.
Each time Amaya was jailed, ICE filed detainers requesting to take custody upon his release. However, Montgomery County declined to comply, citing local policies.
Amaya is currently in ICE custody, and his removal from the U.S. is pending. ICE continues to stress the public safety risk when local jurisdictions fail to cooperate in cases involving violent or repeat offenders.
