ICE ERO Seattle arrests El Salvadoran fugitive 'hitman' wanted for homicide

ICE ERO Seattle arrested an El Salvadoran "hitman" who is wanted as a fugitive in his home country on various criminal charges including homicide. Jose Marin-Lozano, 47, of El Salvador, was captured in Seattle, Washington, on Tuesday and will remain in ICE custody pending removal from the United States, the federal agency said in a press release.

On September 21, 2020, El Salvador issued an arrest warrant for Marin-Lozano for aggravated homicide. Marin-Lozano has been accused of allegedly kidnapping and killing a civilian in 2018 while working as a police officer. Federal law enforcement sources confirmed to The Post Millennial that he is a documented member of a police gang that exterminates targets. Many on his team of "hired killers" have been convicted and sentenced to prison, according to a La Prensa Grafica report.

Records show that El Salvador issued a second arrest warrant on June 9, 2021, for aggravated homicide, proposition, and conspiracy in the crime of aggravated homicide. It's unclear when Marin-Lozano fled the country.

According to ICE ERO Seattle, Marin-Lozano entered the United States on an unknown date or location without inspection by federal immigration officials.

Marin-Lozano fled from justice after being tied to a kidnapping and murder in San Salvador. El Salvadoran authorities said he perpetrated the crime alongside four other police officers. Marin-Lozano and his gang then attempted to assassinate one of his police colleagues, known as "Poison," who was testifying against the organization as a witness for the Prosecutors Office. He also allegedly threatened to kill his colleague's family, according to the report.

"Marin gathered Erazo and Hipolito and told them to accompany him to look for the subject known as Poison because he was a criterion witness of the DECO (Elite Division against Organized Crime) and told them that he had knowledge of the places where he resides and asked them to collaborate to go look for him to kill him," a judicial statement read.

Washington state court records show that Marin-Lozano had no criminal charges while unlawfully residing in the state. He received one civil infraction on October 27, 2022, for speeding in Normandy Park, a city in the Seattle metro area. Marin-Lozano was also able to obtain a Washington state driver's license, according to court documents. Federal law enforcement sources said that Marin-Lozano tried to stay under the radar while living in the United States.






"ICE will continue to act quickly when we learn of cases like this in our community," said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Seattle Field Office Director Drew H. Bostock in a press release. "This arrest highlights the important work our officers do on a daily basis."

Members of the public can report immigration-related crimes or suspicious activity by calling (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.