Federal authorities have arrested more than 10,000 suspected gang members since the beginning of President Donald Trump's second term, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced. The enforcement action is part of a broader campaign to remove violent criminals from U.S. communities.
According to DHS, those arrested have been accused of a range of crimes, including murder, assault with a deadly weapon, drug trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, robbery, and extortion. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has achieved the administration's objective of enhancing community safety.
Mullin also claimed that many of these gang members were admitted into the country under the Biden administration, and asserted that they "murdered, assaulted, robbed, and terrorized innocent Americans for sport." He added that the "Secure America Act" has significantly increased ICE's capacity to arrest gang members and criminals.
DHS identified the 10,000th suspected gang member arrested as Javier Hernandez Rosas, who the agency described as an alleged MS-13 member and an undocumented immigrant from Mexico. The agency reported that Rosas has previous convictions for cocaine possession and had been arrested on charges including abduction and weapons possession.
The announcement coincides with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reporting a record staffing level this spring, with 21,471 agents, the highest in its 102-year history. The administration has prioritized border security, with officials stating that illegal immigration has decreased by over 87% compared to October 2024 levels.