ICE Spokespersons Brief Salvadoran Media
February 22, 2008

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ICE spokespersons Kelly Nantel and Michael Keegan talked to reporters during a press roundtable.

On February 21, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Press Secretary Kelly Nantel and ICE Public Affairs Officer for International Affairs Michael Keegan offered a roundtable with several Salvadoran journalists from local TV, radio and newspapers.

The meeting allowed reporters to learn more about how illegal immigration affects the United States, as well as the processes and safeguards used when returning Salvadorans who were residing illegally in the US to their country. During Fiscal Year 2007, approximately 20,000 Salvadoran nationals were deported from the US.  One-fourth of that number had committed crimes other than illegal immigration in the U.S.  

Both ICE officials arrived in El Salvador that same day on board a repatriation flight with 116 Salvadorans who were being returned to their home country after illegally entering the United States.