The Costa Rican Public Security Ministry ordered the deportation of an alleged Salvadoran gang member this week.

The effort is part of a national increased policy of expediting deportations of violent or dangerous foreigners, said Gustavo Mata Vega, minister of public security.

The El Salvador national, Alfaro Muñoz, 26, was identified as hailing from the La Vega neighborhood of San Salvador, the country’s capital.

Alfaro’s body is decorated with tattoos typical of violent Salvadoran gangs, such as the Mara 18 to which he allegedly belongs. He was arrested yesterday in the center of San Jose municipal police while he was selling along with other street vendors.

His police record brought up previous incidents including aggravated theft, possession of prohibited arms, and extortion, said the ministry. He was in the country on a tourist visa and is being held in police custody pending his deportation from Costa Rica.

Alfaro entered Costa Rica at the Peñas Blancas de La Cruz border with Nicaragua on February 13, 2017. He left CostaRica for Nicaragua on May 22, and returned to Costa Rica that same day, said officials.

Minister Mata gave orders to police at all border and entry posts to “prohibit the entry into the country … foreigners with criminal records for drug trafficking, murders or any other condition that could jeopardize the security and tranquility of Costa Ricans.”

Another Salvadoran, who was arrested yesterday, a man by the last name of Alvarado, aged 29, also remains detained and his immigration status is being investigated.

Apparently, the second subject requested refugee status at a previous date but did not appear to the first hearing set to hear his case.

Yesterday, he was notified of that situation and officials said he would also be expelled from Costa Rica soon. Alfaro has multiple arrests for extortion and active participation in gangs, said the ministry.

Alvarado also entered the country over land from Nicaragua. He arrived September 20, 2016 and went back to Nicaragua first on February 20, 2017, and then on May 22 of that year, on both trips returning the same day to Costa Rica.