Federal Agents Arrest 131 People With Alleged Gang Ties

Authored by Kimberly Hayek via The Epoch Times,

More than 100 gang members were arrested in less than a week, including members of MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, federal officials announced on Monday.

From Oct. 4 to Oct. 10, agents took 131 alleged gang-affiliated individuals into custody, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Of those, 22 were associated with MS-13 affiliates, and 13 were tied to Tren de Aragua, the department said.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) made 129 of the arrests, while Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) handled the remaining two.

“The best that America has to offer are on the frontlines every day to ensure that the worst of humanity cannot threaten or harm innocent Americans,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement about the gang member arrests.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, we are smashing the gangs and cartels, making it impossible for them to do business in America, and removing their members from our country. Arresting and deporting illegal aliens, especially gang members, is how we make America safe again.”

Among those arrested is Gustavo Adolfo Flores-Ramirez, an alleged MS-13 member from El Salvador. Flores-Ramirez is wanted in El Salvador for aggravated homicide, aggravated femicide, rape of a minor or incapacitated person, illegal handling of firearms, illicit grouping, and crimes involving public peace. He was arrested by ICE in Las Vegas on Oct. 14. Flores-Ramirez had been arrested by Border Patrol in 2021, deported to Mexico, and then re-entered illegally.

Jose Luis Perez-Arrias, an alleged Venezuelan Tren de Aragua member described as a suspected hitman, was arrested in Tallahassee, Florida, on Oct. 14. He entered through Texas in October 2023, and the Biden administration released him, according to DHS.

Emerson Jossiel Calderon-Hernandez, an alleged MS-13 member from El Salvador, was taken into custody in Washington on Oct. 13. His criminal history includes a conviction for second-degree assault and arrests for attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, armed robbery, first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and false imprisonment, DHS said. He entered through Texas in August 2012 and was released under the Obama administration.

On Oct. 13, agents in Denver arrested a 14-year-old Venezuelan associated with Los Piratas, a Tren de Aragua faction. He unlawfully possessed a Glock 48 pistol and faces charges of first-degree murder, criminal attempt with extreme indifference, first-degree assault with extreme indifference, first-degree kidnapping, aggravated criminal extortion, illegal discharge of a weapon, and conspiracy, according to DHS.

Gang Arrest Totals

Since Jan. 20, 2025, ICE has arrested 1,965 MS-13 affiliates and 1,553 Tren de Aragua affiliates.

In June, DHS said ICE had arrested more than 10,000 gang members so far during President Donald Trump’s second term.

“These 10,000 criminals committed heinous crimes, including murder, assault with a deadly weapon, drug trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, robbery, and extortion,” DHS stated.

Mullin said many of the 10,000 arrested gang members were released into the United States under the Biden administration.

Earlier, DHS reported that ICE arrested about 7,000 gang members during the first year of the term.