ICE Arrests Over 130 Suspected Gang Members in One Week
Department of Homeland Security reports the apprehension of individuals linked to MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, among others.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested more than 130 suspected gang members illegally present in the country during a single week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced. The operation, conducted between October 4 and October 10, resulted in the apprehension of 131 individuals with gang affiliations, including 22 linked to the violent MS-13 gang and 13 associated with Tren de Aragua (TdA).
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated, "In less than a week, the brave patriots of ICE have arrested more than 100 gang members across the country, including members of MS-13 and Tren de Aragua." He added that these actions are crucial for safeguarding American communities from threats posed by criminal elements.
Among those arrested was Gustavo Adolfo Flores-Ramirez, a Salvadoran national identified as an MS-13 member. He was apprehended in Las Vegas and is wanted in El Salvador for charges including aggravated homicide and rape of a minor. DHS records indicate he was previously arrested in the U.S. in September 2021 and deported to Mexico, before illegally re-entering the country at an unspecified time.
In Tallahassee, Florida, ICE apprehended Jose Luis Perez-Arrias, a Venezuelan national and alleged member of TdA, who is suspected of being a hitman for the organization. He reportedly entered the country in October 2023 and was subsequently released by Border Patrol agents.
Emerson Jossiel Calderon-Hernandez, a Salvadoran national accused of being an MS-13 member, was arrested in Washington, D.C. He has faced charges in the past, including second-degree assault and attempted first-degree murder. Calderon-Hernandez initially entered the U.S. in August 2012.
An unnamed 14-year-old from Venezuela, associated with the Los Piratas Gang, a faction of TdA, was arrested in Denver on Tuesday. The minor was allegedly in possession of a Glock 48 pistol and faces charges related to attempted murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy.
DHS reported that ICE has made a total of 12,018 gang-related arrests since President Donald Trump's return to office in 2025.