ICE Arrests MS-13 Member in Florida

On April 14, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted an operation that led to the arrest of Luis Melary Peralta Sevilla, an undocumented immigrant from Honduras, who is also associated with the MS-13 gang.

During the operation, which involved the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol, a video captured the moment officers apprehended Peralta-Sevilla. The footage reveals a deputy shouting commands to the driver, instructing him to “put your hands out the window,” which was then reiterated in Spanish by an interpreter.

Peralta-Sevilla is currently being held at the Palm Beach County Detention Center. He is awaiting a transfer to ICE custody where deportation processes will begin.

After handcuffing Peralta, law enforcement surrounded the vehicle he was operating, discovering “some minor narcotics” inside. Additionally, law officials reported that the vehicle was impounded due to driving without a valid license, as stated by ICE.

Peralta-Sevilla initially entered the U.S. illegally back in July 2013. Border Patrol agents encountered him in Texas and he admitted to being a Honduran citizen in the country without the proper documentation. After a hearing, an immigration judge granted him bail, allowing him to remain in the U.S. while awaiting deportation proceedings.

Now, as he awaits transfer to ICE, authorities emphasized the significance of their collaboration with local law enforcement, highlighting ongoing concerns about the ties between Peralta and the notorious MS-13 gang. An ICE agent noted that their investigation into Peralta is ongoing, reflecting the complexities surrounding cases like his.