A 24-year-old man described by federal law enforcement as the East Coast leader of the MS-13 gang has been arrested in Woodbridge, Virginia.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrest Thursday (March 27, 2025) morning.
The Justice Department did not immediately release his name or detail the charges against him. Bondi said he was living in the U.S. illegally. It was unclear whether he was facing federal criminal charges or had been taken into custody by immigration officials, the Associated Press reports.
Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel watched the arrest unfold from a nearby tactical operations center. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and senior DOJ official Emil Bove were also present.
“He is an illegal alien from El Salvador, and he will not be living in our country much longer,” Bondi said.
President Donald Trump issued a one line Truth Social comment. Lauding Tom Homan, White House border czar, for the arrest.
"This is what can happen when you put good cops in good places to take on bad guys. And America should be watching this. And we are proud to be here standing with these brave warriors," Kash Patel said.
Fox News reports the FBI has arrested three individuals on its top 10 most wanted list in the past two months alone.
The arrest was executed by a new interagency task force established by the Trump administration to target transnational organized crime and coordinate ongoing immigration enforcement efforts across Virginia. Its creation was part of a crackdown by the Trump administration on foreign gang members residing in the United States, CNN reports.
