One of El Salvador’s ‘most wanted’ nabbed in America’s heartland

The Trump administration on Wednesday nabbed an MS-13 kingpin wanted for multiple murders in his home country and hiding out in the middle of America.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested the high-ranking MS-13 gang member in Omaha, Nebraska, according to the agency. The individual, whom the administration has yet to identify, is a Salvadoran illegal migrant wanted in his home country for the murder of five different people and listed as one of El Salvador’s “top 100 most wanted” criminals. 

In addition to the aggravated homicide of five victims, the high-ranking gangbanger is accused of attempted aggravated homicide, deprivation of liberty and terrorist organization affiliation, according to ICE.

Arrested alongside the MS-13 kingpin was his associate, Rene Saul Escobar Ochoa, also a member of the gang and living in the U.S. unlawfully, according to the agency. Ochoa allegedly ordered fellow MS-13 members to carry out a number of crimes, including multiple homicides, drug trafficking, imprisonment and extortion.

“These illegal aliens didn’t just sneak into our country; they brought with them a legacy of violence, terror and death,” Mark Zito, Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City Special Agent in Charge, said of the arrests. “They thought they could hide in America’s heartland, but they were sadly mistaken. Not on our watch.”

The major arrest comes amid a time when assaults against ICE agents have reached sky-high levels, and there have been multiple instances of people obstructing ICE arrests. In a public statement, the chief of the agency warned against demonizing ICE agents and the dangers of interfering with an enforcement action.

“When ICE agents move in to make an arrest, it is extremely important that the public not interfere,” ICE acting Director Todd Lyons stated. “The misinformation, and sometimes blatant lies, being spread around the country could result in someone stepping into a federal operation and suddenly finding themselves face-to-face with a killer who has nothing to lose.”

“Our ICE officers and agents are protecting your neighborhoods, even when you don’t know the threat is there, so either support them or get out of the way,” Lyons continued.

On July 4, nearly a dozen violent assailants, equipped with tactical gear and weapons, allegedly ambushed an ICE facility in Alvarado, Texas, resulting in one local police officer getting shot in the neck after they unloaded rounds of bullets at agents. On that same day, several rioters allegedly attacked federal agents at an ICE facility in Portland, Oregon.

 All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].