The 24-year-old man, known as one of the top three leaders of the country’s MS-13, was arrested Thursday morning in a suburban neighborhood in William County, Virginia, just a few miles from the FBI Academy in Barion.
Federal and state officials have accused the suspect of being the mastermind of the East Coast of MS-13, a violent Salvadra transnational crime gang known for its drug trafficking, terror and brutal murders. The suspect was taken into custody in Dale City without incident, in a home where five children were reportedly present.
“As one of the top domestic terrorists in MS-13, he’s off the streets, so he’s safer today,” Attorney General Pam Bondy said. statement. “This was a continuing command from President Trump. His direction when I became US Attorney General was very simple. Keep America safe!”
The arrest comes as part of a wider statewide crackdown on cross-border criminal organizations, including MS-13. The Virginia Homeland Security Task Force, launched earlier this year by the US Lawyer’s Office for the Eastern Region of Virginia, has been arrested. 247 people In the first three weeks. At least 18 of these arrests are associated with MS-13.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin praised his arrest and reiterated his administration’s immigration enforcement stance.
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“It’s this effort that has been made possible by the Trump administration,” Youngkin said. “President Trump said, ‘Get the bad guys.’ I have literally worked on this for the first three years of our administration, with little or no help from the senior federal leaders of the Biden administration. ”
Youngkin believed in the task force and said it would help lead to rapid arrests.
“This task force was designed in the White House… it was built in a very fast period and quickly stood up… we cannot fully emphasize the collaboration, support and leadership from the new administration that is very different from what we saw. [under the Biden Administration]The governor said at a press conference.
White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt commented on the arrest of one of the top leaders of MS-13 in northern Virginia at a White House press conference Thursday morning.
Lewitt said the president was explained and said he was “very proud of Attorney General Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel.” She called the suspect “a very violent individual greeted in a home with five children.”
Patel praised law enforcement and the Trump administration for letting them do their job.
“This is what happens when you get a good police officer to be an officer, and we continue to get a good police officer in this country to be an officer. President Trump has given us the enforcement decision to chase and protect our community… We are bringing the community back to safety,” the FBI director said.
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The president also praised the true social arrest. @fbidirectorkashTom Homan and Kristi N, about capturing MS-13 leaders – a big deal! ”
Youngkin also proposes state withholding from local governments, limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
As of Thursday afternoon, federal officials have either not made the suspect’s name public or have not released a formal charge.
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