US Officials Arrest Alleged Leader of Salvadoran Gang MS-13

WASHINGTON, March 28, 2025 – US authorities arrested an alleged leader of the Salvadoran gang MS-13 in Virginia on Thursday, marking a significant step in the ongoing crackdown on organised criminal groups, according to the Trump administration.

The suspect, identified by US Justice Department officials as 24-year-old Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos, has been charged with being an undocumented alien in possession of a firearm, as per court records.

President Donald Trump described Santos as a “major leader of MS-13,” a Latin America-based gang that the US has designated as a foreign terrorist organisation.

Attorney General Pam Bondi held a press conference stating that Santos, who hails from El Salvador, was in the United States illegally. She added, “He will not be living in our country much longer.” Bondi further revealed that Santos was a leader of the gang’s East Coast operations, and one of the top three leaders of MS-13 in the entire country. His arrest took place in Virginia, just half an hour from Washington, DC.

During his initial federal court appearance on Wednesday, Santos appeared without legal representation, prompting the court to appoint a public defender for him. He was informed of his rights through a Spanish interpreter and was ordered to remain in custody until his next hearing on April 1, according to court documents.

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt later told reporters that Santos was a “very violent individual” and that he had been arrested in a home where five children were present.

Since returning to the White House in January, President Trump has focused on targeting predominantly Hispanic criminal organisations operating in the US, alongside a broader push to tighten immigration policies.

This month, Trump sparked backlash from Democrats and human rights groups after invoking a 200-year-old law to deport alleged members of MS-13 and another gang, Tren de Aragua, to a prison in El Salvador. This move is now being challenged in court, with a judge questioning the legality of using the 1798 Alien Enemies Act for deportations and examining whether the Trump administration ignored a court order to halt the deportation flights.