BREAKING UPDATE: Authorities arrest illegal alien who escaped ICE Detention Center near Seattle

A criminal illegal immigrant who has alleged ties to the Tren de Aragua terror group was arrested in Oregon on Saturday after escaping from the ICE Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington.

Alvaro Flores-Barboza, 24, a citizen of Venezuela, escaped from the secured prison facility located just south of Seattle on the night of Wednesday, March 26. After several days on the run, he was captured by local police in the neighboring state of Oregon, ICE spokesperson David Yost told The Post Millennial in a statement. The Washington County Sheriff's Office apprehended Flores-Barboza on March 29 around 5:30 am in Beaverton.

Flores-Barboza climbed over security fencing to make the escape. He reportedly sustained injuries from the razor wire and left behind a trail of blood, according to federal law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation. The specifics on how he successfully broke free have not yet been revealed. US Marshals had taken over the search for Flores-Barboza from Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) on Friday, sources said.

It remains unclear how Flores-Barboza escaped to Oregon. However, he had been residing in the state when he was first arrested by ICE earlier this month.

Jail records show that Flores-Barboza is currently in custody at the Washington County Jail in Oregon, which is located in Hillsboro, roughly 30 minutes west of Portland. Further details surrounding his capture have not yet been made public.

According to Yost, Flores-Barboza was first apprehended by ICE agents in Portland for immigration violations. Subsequently, he was transferred to the ICE NW Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington, where he was threatened with removal from the United States. He had previously been convicted of felony unlawful use of a weapon and assault in the Washington County Circuit Court, said Yost.

The ICE spokesperson did not provide a specific date as to when Flores-Barboza was first taken into custody by ICE. However, court records show that he was arrested on March 10 in Washington County on charges of criminal driving with a suspended/revoked license and providing false information to a police officer. This indicates that he was initially apprehended by ICE sometime after March 10.

Flores-Barboza was described by the ICE spokesperson as a "criminal alien" in the statement, meaning he has been residing in the country unlawfully. The federal immigration agency did not disclose when Flores-Barboza first entered the United States. However, court records show that he has been residing in Oregon since at least 2024, as evidenced by several run-ins with the law.

On July 4, 2024, Flores-Barboza was arrested and charged in the Washington County Circuit Court with unlawful use of a weapon, fourth-degree assault, reckless driving, recklessly endangering another person, and failure to perform duties of a driver to an injured person. He entered a guilty plea on December 10, 2024, and was convicted on two of the charges: unlawful use of a weapon and reckless driving. The other charges were dropped as part of the plea agreement, court filings show.

He received a mild penalty of two years of probation and a one-year license suspension.

Additionally, Flores-Barboza was taken into custody on May 18, 2024, in Washington County on charges including theft, assault, and robbery. He pleaded guilty to assault on June 21, 2024, which resulted in the additional charges being dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

He was sentenced to two years of probation, according to court records.

Federal law enforcement sources told The Post Millennial that Flores-Barboza has suspected ties to the Tren de Aragua Venezuelan street gang, which the Trump administration recently designated a foreign terrorist group. He has shared several images on social media of himself with wads of cash and drugs.

Alvaro Flores-Barboza, of Venezuela, poses with a wad of cash and a glitzy red watch. Credit: Instagram

Alvaro Flores-Barboza. Credit: Instagram

Tacoma Police told local news in a statement that the detention center contacted them for assistance around 7:30 pm on March 26 to locate the escaped inmate. Officers responded to the area but were unable to find the subject. ICE then told Tacoma PD that their assistance was no longer needed, according to the police department.

The ICE NW Detention Center, which can hold up to 1,575 detainees, has been operated by the private prison company GEO Group, Inc., since 2005. The company's contract with ICE expires this year.

Flores-Barboza faces new federal charges of escape. He will appear before a magistrate judge in Portland on Monday afternoon for an initial court hearing. He will then be transferred back to Western Washington, according to federal law enforcement sources. ICE ERO Seattle said he faces removal from the United States.

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