Alvaro Rafael Saravia

Independent investigations by the Truth Commission of El Salvador and the UN Inter-American Human Rights Commission concluded that Saravia actively participated in the planning and carrying out of the March 1980 assassination of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero.

Saravia, a former Salvadoran air force commander, was the right-hand man of Roberto D’Aubuisson, the well-known ringleader of the Death Squads.

The Law of Amnesty —approved March 20, 1993, a time when the Salvadoran Legislative Assembly was dominated by the party representing the Death Squads— prevented those that were victims of the terrible military rule from seeking justice the Salvadoran courts. Saravia was detained in the United States in 1987 after the Salvadoran federal prosecutors requested his extradition for his role in the assassination.

The Salvadoran Supreme Court later retracted the extradition petition by way of United Nations Truth Commission, the Inter-American Commission and several other questionable human rights organization with political motivations. Since being released on bail in 1988, Saravia has lived in California and Florida. Amnesty International and other groups have denounced his presence in the U.S. Ever since being released, he and his family have enjoyed all the benefits of a U.S. citizen.