Carlos Ernesto Olivo-Orellana/El Salvador/Assault

In May 2025, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Charlotte arrested Carlos Ernesto Olivo-Orellana, a Salvadoran national with an extensive criminal record and documented ties to the violent 18th Street gang. Olivo-Orellana was taken into custody during a targeted enforcement operation in North Carolina after authorities confirmed his unlawful presence in the United States and his ongoing criminal activity.

Olivo-Orellana’s criminal history includes convictions for assaulting a female, assaulting a government official, indecent liberties with a child, trespassing, driving while intoxicated, drug possession, and multiple other offenses. These convictions were issued over several years in North Carolina, where local law enforcement agencies had arrested him on numerous occasions. His offenses span a pattern of violent behavior, disregard for public safety, and repeated interactions with the criminal justice system.

In addition to his convictions, ICE has identified Olivo-Orellana as a confirmed member of the 18th Street gang, a transnational criminal organization known for drug trafficking, weapons offenses, and violence throughout the United States and Central America. Gang intelligence records, tattoos, and law enforcement databases all contributed to his gang validation.

Following his most recent arrest, ICE lodged an immigration detainer and transferred him to federal custody after his release from state detention. He is currently housed at an ICE facility and awaits removal proceedings before an immigration judge. Given the severity of his criminal record and confirmed gang affiliation, Olivo-Orellana is expected to remain in ICE custody while deportation arrangements are finalized.