Early this morning, the Trump Administration announced the successful capture of a high-ranking leader of the infamous MS-13 gang in Virginia. This illegal immigrant from El Salvador was identified as one of the top three leaders of MS-13 operating in the United States. The apprehension was the result of a well-coordinated effort involving federal law enforcement agencies, alongside state and local law enforcement in Virginia, effectively removing this gang leader from the streets and enhancing community safety.
In a statement following the arrest, Attorney General Pam Bondi expressed, “America is safer today because one of the top domestic terrorists in MS-13 is off the streets. This has been an ongoing directive of President Trump. His directive to me when I became Attorney General of the United States was very simple: keep America safe.” This remark underscores the administration's commitment to tackling violent crime and illegal immigration.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin echoed these sentiments, stating, “It’s this effort that has been enabled by the Trump Administration. President Trump said, ‘Get the bad guys.’ I’ve been working on this — literally — for the first three years of our administration with little to no help from the senior leadership in the federal government under the Biden Administration.” He emphasized the collaborative efforts that led to the signing of a 287(g) memorandum on the first day of President Trump’s second term, which allows local law enforcement to collaborate with federal immigration authorities.
FBI Director Kash Patel commented on the importance of supporting law enforcement, saying, “This is what happens when you let good cops be cops, and we’re going to continue to let good cops be cops across this country. President Trump gave us the executive decision to go after and safeguard our communities … We are returning our communities to safety.” This highlights the administration's focus on empowering law enforcement to combat gang violence and crime.
Attorney General Bondi reiterated the administration’s tough stance on illegal immigration, stating, “From the second Donald Trump took office, he said he is going to make America safe. He shut down our borders — and now it’s our job to get these people out of our country as fast as we can … We will not have another Laken Riley.” This statement reflects an ongoing strategy to prevent violent crimes linked to illegal immigration.
FBI Director Patel further emphasized the reach of the task force, declaring, “This task force is going to go everywhere as needed across the United States to bring the form of justice and measured security and safety that our American citizens deserve … If you are here illegally, you will not be here any longer — and if you are going to continue to commit acts of violent crime, you will meet the same fate that this individual did this morning.”
Governor Youngkin concluded by praising the rapid development of the task force, stating, “This task force was designed in the White House … architected in a very quick period of time and stood up immediately … I cannot emphasize enough the collaboration and support and leadership out of the new administration that is so different than what we saw under the Biden Administration.” This remark highlights the contrasting approaches to law enforcement between the two administrations.
The successful apprehension of this MS-13 leader marks a significant step in the ongoing battle against gang violence and illegal immigration, reinforcing the administration's commitment to ensuring the safety of American communities.
