Photo: Alamy
President Trump praised his administration on Thursday for their work in apprehending a deadly MS-13 leader in the great state of Virginia, calling Border Czar Tom Homan a “superstar” and noting that the arrest was a “big deal!”
According to the White House, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador was arrested early morning in the Old Dominion state.
The White House described this individual – whose name has not yet been released – as a “key leader of the brutal MS-13 gang” and noted this arrest was made possible by “coordinated effort” from federal, state, and local law enforcement.
“Just captured a major leader of MS13. Tom HOMAN is a superstar!” President Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He added, “Great job by Pam Bondi, @FBIDirectorKash, Tom HOMAN, and Kristi N, on the capture of MS13 leader – A big deal!”
This latest arrest comes amid a nationwide deportation operation implemented by President Trump upon day one of his second administration.
Attorney General Bondi said in a statement on Thursday, “America is safer today because one of the top domestic terrorists in MS-13 – he 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!”
In early March, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection revealed that the U.S. Border Patrol had apprehended just over 8,300 illegal aliens at the southwest border, amounting to the lowest-ever recorded number in the agency’s recorded history.
Tightened border security has also come in tandem with deportation efforts to remove illegals from American soil and send them back to their countries of origin. Per Reuters, Trump’s administration deported over 37,000 aliens during his first full month in office so far.
Additionally, some illegals who have committed especially violent crimes in the U.S. are being transported to prison facilities outside the country. For example, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently toured El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center to illustrate this harsh reality for criminals.
“If you come to our country illegally, this is one of the consequences you will face,” she said in a video posted to X.
Noem filmed the video in front of a cell filled with what appeared to be current inmates of the facility.
She continued, “First of all, do not come to our country illegally. You will be removed and you will be prosecuted…this facility is one of the tools in our toolkit that we will use if you commit crimes against the American people.”
It is unknown at this time if the newly arrested MS-13 leader from Virginia will be transported to the facility in El Salvador or elsewhere.