ICE touts arrests of alleged MS-13 gang members

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) highlighted 267 arrests Thursday of suspected members and associates of the El Salvador-based MS-13 gang.

“Today I am pleased to announce the arrest of 267 MS-13 gang members and associates in conjunction of ICE’s most recent targeted anti-gang effort known as ‘Operation Raging Bull,'” Tom Homan, ICE deputy director, said at a press conference.

“This successful operation continues our efforts to attack MS-13 — domestically and abroad — disrupting their financial networks,” he continued, adding that MS-13 is involved in a wide range of “criminal activities” including human trafficking, murder and prostitution.

{mosads}The Trump administration has repeatedly highlighted MS-13 as it seeks to rally support for tougher immigration policies, as well as President Trump’s campaign promise to build a wall on the southern border.

“By taking criminal street gang members and associates off the streets — if they are here illegally, removing them from the country — we are addressing a significant security and public safety vulnerability,” said Derek Benner, who works as a top executive in ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations.

Benner said 198 of the alleged MS-13 members who were arrested were foreign nationals, while 16 suspects were U.S. citizens.

Homan vowed to continue going after the gang, saying it is a top ICE priority. 

“This is a great operation, but we are not done,” the ICE chief said.

The operation, which was done in two phases, began with more than 50 arrests in El Salvador, then 214 arrests in the U.S. between Oct. 8 and Nov. 11.

In April, Trump tweeted that “weak illegal immigration policies of the Obama Admin. allowed bad MS 13 gangs to form in cities across U.S.”

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has previously blamed “open border and years of lax immigration enforcement” for allowing the gang to become more powerful.