U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported José Serrano, a former Ecuadorian interior minister accused of involvement in the 2023 assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio, to Ecuador on Friday. His removal occurred even after a U.S. judge had blocked his deportation, citing concerns that Serrano could face torture if returned to his home country.
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa announced Serrano's arrival on X, formerly Twitter, stating he was the newest "guest" at the El Encuentro mega-prison. Noboa also directed comments at former President Rafael Correa, under whom Serrano served as interior minister from 2012 to 2016. Correa, who lives in Belgium and was convicted in absentia in Ecuador for bribery, received a taunting message from Noboa on X.
Serrano faces charges from Ecuador's Attorney General's Office, along with six others, including alleged cartel leader Wilmer "Pipo" Chavarría, for their roles in the assassination of Fernando Villavicencio. Villavicencio was killed on August 9, 2023, by six Colombian assassins following a campaign rally in Quito, just days before the first round of special general elections. Authorities allege Serrano filtered information about Villavicencio's movements to the Los Lobos cartel.
Serrano entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in May 2021 and applied for asylum five months later. ICE arrested him at his Miami home on August 7, 2025, for overstaying his visa. While a U.S. immigration judge denied his asylum case on May 13, the deportation order was suspended under the United Nations Convention Against Torture, which prohibits deporting individuals at risk of torture. Despite this, ICE proceeded with the deportation.
Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Juan Pablo Segura confirmed Serrano's deportation, noting he was wanted by INTERPOL and faced charges in Ecuador for corruption and cartel ties.
Five individuals linked to the Los Lobos cartel were convicted in 2024 for their roles in the assassination. The six Colombian assassins were found dead in a Guayaquil jail in October 2023. Chavarría, who reportedly faked his death, was arrested in Spain in November 2025 and awaits extradition.