A Salvadoran national, César Eliseo Sorto-Amaya, 28, who was previously convicted of double homicide in El Salvador and sentenced to 50 years in prison, has been charged with illegally reentering the United States, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey announced on February 28. Sorto-Amaya’s arrest marks another chapter in his criminal history that spans across borders.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Sorto-Amaya first entered the U.S. illegally on February 14, 2015, when he was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol in Texas. He was deported to El Salvador on March 3, 2015. However, Sorto-Amaya illegally returned to the U.S. and was arrested in Elizabeth, New Jersey, in 2016 for obstructing justice and unlawfully possessing a knife. He was convicted for the weapon charge in Union County Superior Court and deported again in February 2017.
Despite his previous deportations, Sorto-Amaya illegally reentered the U.S. once again and was arrested by Border Patrol on August 26, 2017. He was removed from the U.S. a second time on September 7, 2017.
In a development earlier this year, Salvadoran authorities informed U.S. officials that Sorto-Amaya had been convicted in absentia on April 22, 2024, for double aggravated homicide and sentenced to 50 years in prison. On February 12, 2024, Salvadoran officials notified U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that Sorto-Amaya had resurfaced in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
Acting on this information, ICE agents arrested Sorto-Amaya at a residence in Elizabeth, New Jersey, matching the details provided by Salvadoran authorities. His identity was confirmed through fingerprint analysis, and an identification card found on him further verified his identity.
Sorto-Amaya now faces federal charges for illegally reentering the U.S. after being deported multiple times. If convicted, he could face up to two years in federal prison, followed by removal from the United States.
This case highlights the ongoing challenges of illegal reentry and the extensive criminal histories of some individuals involved in illegal immigration. With this arrest, U.S. authorities continue to enforce laws aimed at protecting public safety and maintaining the integrity of immigration systems.
