On Thursday, the FBI announced the apprehension of the leading figure of MS-13 on the East Coast of the United States. The 24-year-old suspect was arrested in Woodbridge, Virginia, located just south of Washington, D.C. While the suspect’s identity has not yet been disclosed, law enforcement officials indicate that he ranks among the top three MS-13 leaders in the nation.
Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel observed the operation from a nearby tactical operations center, accompanied by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, a senior official from the Department of Justice.
“Early this morning, we successfully captured one of the top leaders of MS-13, who was overseeing operations on the East Coast and is among the top three in the entire country, right here in Virginia. He is an illegal immigrant from El Salvador, and he will not be residing in our country for much longer,” Bondi stated. She emphasized the operation’s efficiency and safety, noting that the apprehended individual represents one of the most dangerous members of MS-13. “Thanks to the FBI, our streets are safer today,” she added.
Bondi further remarked, “From the moment Donald Trump assumed the presidency, he committed to enhancing America’s safety. He took decisive action to secure our borders, and now it is our responsibility to remove these individuals from our country. We will not allow another incident like Laken Riley to occur.”
She highlighted a significant increase in arrests, noting a 468% rise compared to the same timeframe last year. “We did not require new legislation, as President Trump often asserts; we needed a new president,” she continued. “America is safer today with one of the leading domestic terrorists from MS-13 off the streets. This has been a continuous directive from President Trump. His instruction to me upon my appointment as Attorney General was clear: Keep America safe.”
Patel stated, “This task force will operate wherever necessary throughout the United States to deliver the justice and the level of security and safety that our American citizens rightfully deserve. If you persist in committing acts of violent crime, you will face the same consequences as the individual apprehended this morning.”
“This is the outcome when we empower dedicated police officers to perform their duties, and we will continue to support good officers across the nation. We are committed to restoring safety in our communities,” Patel emphasized.
He also commended law enforcement for executing a secure operation.
“This illustrates what can be achieved when competent officers are positioned effectively to confront criminal elements. America should take note of this, and we are honored to stand alongside these courageous individuals,” Patel remarked.
He referred to the illegal drug gangs, such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, as terrorist organizations, stating, “They are international terrorists operating right here in our country. Addressing this issue necessitates the formation of this task force, which brings together resources from Virginia, including our esteemed Virginia State Police, under the leadership of Colonel Hanley, our Department of Corrections, led by Judge Chad Dotson, and our administrative leadership, spearheaded by Secretary Terry Cole and Attorney General Jason Miyares. Together, we have mobilized significant federal resources. Over the past four weeks, we have diligently worked to unravel these networks, build cases, and apprehend these dangerous criminals who reside in our neighborhoods,” he concluded.
This morning’s arrest took place in Dale City, located in Prince William County, within northern Virginia, recognized as one of the finest regions in the United States. The individual apprehended was a prominent leader of MS-13 residing in this area, an illegal immigrant who will be returned to their country of origin. This operation has been significantly supported by the Trump Administration, which emphasized the need to “Get the bad guys.” I have dedicated the first three years of our administration to this initiative, often with minimal assistance from senior federal leadership and the Biden Administration, Youngkin stated.
Youngkin continued, “On our first day, we initiated a 287G memorandum, completing it in just 20 hours. This allowed me to empower our state police and Department of Corrections personnel to participate in this task force. I extend my gratitude to General Bondi, who has been with us since she took office, and to Director Patel, who has also been a steadfast supporter, providing essential resources and capabilities.”
“Most importantly, I want to express my appreciation to the men and women who risk their lives daily. These individuals don bulletproof vests for their protection, and it is rare for them to receive acknowledgment for their service. Today, they deserve a significant thank you, but they warrant our gratitude every single day. In the past four weeks alone, 340 dangerous criminals have been apprehended in Northern Virginia,” he remarked.