Authorities captured Rene Escobar-Ochoa, an alleged drug trafficker, in Omaha, Nebraska, and captured an unnamed El Salvadoran national, wanted for multiple murders, in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
“The Biden administration allowed two ringleaders of MS-13, one of the most violent gangs in the world, straight into our country,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a press release.
“One of these depraved aliens is on El Salvador’s 100 Most Wanted Fugitives list and is wanted for five counts of murder. The other has an INTERPOL notice for drug trafficking. These are the kinds of scum-bags sanctuary politicians are protecting and letting walk free on America’s streets,” she added.
The Trump administration has designated the Mara Salvatrucha gang as a terrorist organization and touted the other arrests of top leaders in the organization, including an MS-13 leader in March.
Homeland Security Investigations special agents at HSI-Omaha led the investigation, leading to the two arrests of individuals, both wanted in El Salvador, with assistance from federal and international law enforcement partners. Escobar-Ochoa has an “INTERPOL Red Notice from El Salvador for drug trafficking and conspiracy to commit murder,” according to the DHS. Border Patrol encountered him in 2023, but the DHS says he was allowed to remain in the U.S.
The unnamed person nabbed in Iowa, who DHS said is an illegal immigrant and appears on El Salvador’s 100 Most Wanted Fugitives list, is wanted for five counts of murder.
“Their ability to enter and operate in the United States emphasized the danger of letting violent offenders exploit our border, and reinforces why the Trump administration refuses to let its guard down,” the release says.
The DHS says Immigration and Customs Enforcement is holding both individuals in custody and has initiated removal proceedings to send them back to El Salvador with the cooperation of their authorities.
MORE TREN DE ARAGUA AND MS-13 GANGS CROSSING BORDER FROM CANADA: NOEM
ICE has removed more than 65,000 people from the U.S. since President Donald Trump took office.
“We removed over 65,000 illegal aliens to countries across the world,” ICE acting Director Todd M. Lyons said in June when ICE released the numbers from the first 100 days. “We’re just 100 days into this administration, and thanks to President Trump and Secretary Noem, ICE is using every tool at its disposal to enforce our country’s immigration laws and protect our communities.”
