(The Center Square) – The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Virginia Homeland Security Task Force arrested 39 individuals, including members of the MS-13 gang, in a statewide operation targeting violent crime and immigration violations.
The arrests follow Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s Executive Order 47, which directs the Virginia State Police and Department of Corrections to work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to assist in federal immigration enforcement efforts.
As previously reported by The Center Square, the EO expands state law enforcement’s role in immigration enforcement.
As agencies are tasked with immigration control, accused high-ranking MS-13 leader David Alejandro Orellana-Aleman was arrested in Hyattsville, Md., on Feb 27.
Orella-Aleman, a Salvadoran national, is suspected of overseeing gang activities in the U.S., Mexico and Europe.
“The apprehension of David Alejandro Orellana-Aleman strikes a significant blow to the leadership and organization of the MS-13 terrorist organization,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations acting Field Office Director Matthew Elliston in a statement.
“This arrest speaks volumes about the cooperation enjoyed between ICE and the FBI. We will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing illegal alien offenders from our communities,” said Elliston.
Maryland has also seen an increase in gang-related arrests, with law enforcement officials showing an emphasis on the connection between Virginia and Maryland in combating MS-13.
MS-13 has had a strong presence in Virginia and Maryland for decades, with law enforcement tracking its activities as far back as the early 2000s.
The gang, known for violent crimes including murder, drug trafficking and extortion, has used Northern Virginia and the D.C. suburbs as key hubs for recruitment and operations.
