Fabricio Ernesto Gil Espana/El Salvador/Operating Under the Influence, Gang Membership

On Jan. 7, ICE ERO Boston officers arrested Fabricio Ernesto Gil Espana, a criminal alien and suspected gang member from El Salvador, as part of an enforcement action targeting high‑risk offenders. Espana has been charged in the United States with operating under the influence, an offense that raised public safety concerns given his documented gang ties.

According to law enforcement, a police database in El Salvador identifies Espana as a member of the 18th Street Gang, a transnational criminal organization involved in violent and narcotics‑related activity. A spokesman said Espana is currently being held in immigration custody while removal proceedings move forward, with authorities assessing both his U.S. criminal charge and his foreign gang affiliation in determining next steps.