In a serious case involving illegal reentries and criminal charges, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has deported a man from El Salvador who was wanted for human trafficking in his home country. The man, Wilver Cota-Ortiz, had entered the United States illegally multiple times and was convicted of several crimes over the years before being finally removed.
First Arrest and Removal in 2010
Wilver Cota-Ortiz, a 43-year-old from El Salvador, first entered the United States without any legal permission. His exact date and place of entry are still unknown. On January 9, 2010, police in Dallas, Texas arrested him for assault with a deadly weapon. The next day, immigration officials placed a hold on him so they could take custody after his criminal case.
By April 1, 2010, the Dallas court found him guilty of two counts of assault and sentenced him to eight years of probation. After that, ICE took him into custody and removed him to El Salvador on December 17, 2010, following an order by an immigration judge.
Second Entry and Removal in 2015
Cota-Ortiz returned to the U.S. again, without permission and through an unknown location. On August 6, 2013, U.S. Border Patrol caught him in Otay Mesa, California. At that time, officials found out that he had violated the probation he received in Texas earlier.
The Dallas court again convicted him and sentenced him to two years in prison. After serving his time, ICE took him into custody and deported him once more to El Salvador on December 18, 2015.
Third Illegal Entry and Final Removal in 2025
Despite being deported twice, Cota-Ortiz came back again without permission. This time, ICE arrested him on February 15, 2023, for illegal reentry. On October 31, 2023, a Delaware court found him guilty and gave him a nine-month prison sentence.
While he was in federal prison, ICE found out that he was wanted in El Salvador for human trafficking. After completing his sentence, he was deported again on April 4, 2025.
ICE’s Message on Justice
ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations team from Seattle played a key role in this case. Interim Field Office Director Cammilla H. Wamsley said that ICE is committed to arresting people who come to the U.S. to avoid justice in their home country, especially in serious cases like human trafficking.
If anyone has information about foreign fugitives, they are encouraged to contact ICE by phone or through the online tip form.
The story of Wilver Cota-Ortiz highlights how immigration authorities keep track of people who enter the U.S. illegally, especially those with criminal records. Even after multiple illegal entries and removals, ICE continued its efforts to ensure public safety by deporting someone wanted for a serious crime like human trafficking.
The case also shows how cooperation between local police, federal courts, and immigration agencies helps to remove dangerous individuals from the country and return them to face justice in their homeland.
