Top MS-13 gang leader arrested in Woodbridge, Virginia
Authorities identify top MS-13 gang leader arrested in Virginia
U.S. authorities have captured the MS-13 top leader for the U.S. East Coast, the FBI announced on Thursday morning. The 24-year-old suspect has been identified as Henry Josue Villatoro Santos. The suspect was arrested in Dale City, according to Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. - U.S. authorities have arrested one of the top leaders of the MS-13 gang in the country, the FBI announced Thursday.
The 24-year-old suspect was captured in Woodbridge, Virginia, just south of Washington, D.C. Officials confirmed he is among the top three leaders of the gang in the United States.
READ MORE: What is MS-13? Here's what we know
What we know:
The arrest was a joint effort, according to United States Attorney General Pam Bondi. The operation included the FBI joined by the Prince William County Police Department, ATF, ICE, and the Virginia State Police.
What they're saying:
Officials discussed the details of the arrest on Thursday morning at a press conference at FBI headquarters in Prince William County, Virginia.
AG Bondi shared officials have been working on this operation for days and weeks. The suspect apprehended was the top leader of MS-13 for the U.S. East Coast.
"He is an illegal alien from El Salvador, and he will not be living in our country much longer."
According to Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, the arrest took place in Dale City on Thursday morning.
"It's time for us to recognize that Virginia is not a sanctuary state."
Top MS-13 gang leader arrested in Virginia
The 24-year-old suspect is being named as one of the top three leaders of the MS-13 gang in the U.S.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin
The backstory:
Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently threatened state funding for local governments if they don’t cooperate with federal immigration authorities. It’s all part of the governor’s efforts to go after so-called "sanctuary cities" in the Commonwealth.
Youngkin first proposed this in December. Now he’s brought it back as a proposed amendment to the state budget passed by the General Assembly.
What they're saying:
The proposal strips state funding from counties or cities that practice "sanctuary city" policies, like ignoring detainer requests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement before releasing illegal immigrants who’ve been in a local jail.
Chair of the Board of Supervisors for Fairfax County, Jeff Mckay, tells FOX 5 that Youngkin’s plan would effectively "defund the police." He insists that Fairfax County is not a "sanctuary city" and says they follow all legal detainers.
"Ultimately, what he’s saying is, if you don’t agree with his non-lawyer definition of 'sanctuary city,' it could affect your law enforcement agency, and he’s doing this because he’s alleging significant crime is occurring," McKay said.
Youngkin threatens state funding over immigration laws
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin is doubling down on jurisdictions pursuing "sanctuary city" policies. This next move comes after an executive order issued last month deputized state and corrections officers to assist ICE in arrest and deportation operations.
President Trump's response
What we know:
"Great job by Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, Tom HOMAN, and Kristi N, on the capture of MS13 leader - A big deal!" President Donald Trump wrote on social media.
The Trump administration has deported several top members of MS-13 to El Salvador for incarceration.
This is a developing story that will be updated. Stay with FOX 5 DC for updates and more information.
The Source: Information from FOX News was used to write this report.