ICE Arrests Over 7,000 Gang Members in Trump’s First Year

The Department of Homeland Security has reported that during the initial year of President Donald Trump’s second term, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents apprehended more than 7,000 gang members involved in various criminal activities, including murder and kidnapping.

In a statement, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin noted, “In President Trump’s first year in office, ICE arrested 7,000 gang members. We are serious about targeting the worst offenders, many of whom should never have been allowed in the country. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, we’re committed to enhancing public safety by arresting even more gang members.”

The individuals arrested were linked to over a dozen gangs such as MS-13, Crips, and Bloods. This aggressive enforcement contrasts sharply with the previous administration’s policies, which were criticized for allowing thousands of undocumented immigrants to enter without thorough security checks.

However, the increase in enforcement has led to heightened hostility against ICE officers. Since Trump’s second term began, there have been reported spikes in violence, with assaults against immigration officers rising dramatically—1,300%—and vehicle attacks also surging by over 3,000%.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has claimed that liberal politicians have been fueling anti-ICE sentiment.

Among those arrested were:

• Vicente Paul Carreno-Aurer, from Venezuela and a Torren de Aragua gang member, with a criminal record involving serious offenses. He was apprehended on February 28 after being released by the Biden administration.
• Nestor Fabian Rongnono, tied to the Latin Kings gang, previously convicted of multiple serious crimes including murder, arrested December 5.
• Juan Antonio Jaimes Lazaro, a member of the Mexican Mafia, faced charges including murder and various assaults; he was taken into custody on August 12.
• Kevin Elenilson Avalos Diaz, associated with MS-13, was arrested on charges including murder and kidnapping, having entered the U.S. illegally in 2016.
• Yonny Ledesma-Pedraza, a Norteños member, was arrested on January 14, with a record of serious violent crimes.
• Sai Reus, from Cambodia and a member of the Crips, was captured on March 4 and later deported.

Alongside these gang arrests, over 500,000 deportations were also recorded by the DHS during Trump’s first year. The ongoing efforts reflect a strong commitment to strict immigration enforcement, which includes significant raids and efforts to push sanctuary states like New York to cooperate with federal authorities.

Trump has stated that taxpayers shouldn’t support areas that don’t cooperate with ICE, leading to halted federal funding for sanctuary states beginning February 1, the legality of which has been contested by leaders in New York and California.