ICE Arrests MS-13 Gang Member with Interpol Red Notice in Maryland
A validated MS-13 gang member from El Salvador, Joel Armando Mejia-Benitez, 38, was apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Maryland on Monday, according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to Fox News Digital. Mejia-Benitez had no approved or pending visas at the time of his arrest.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin revealed that Mejia-Benitez, who is subject to an Interpol Red Notice, first entered the United States illegally in 2005 and was subsequently deported. He reentered the country at an unknown date before being apprehended by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Baltimore in 2014. Following his arrest, he was issued a notice to appear and released back into Silver Spring, Maryland.
An Interpol Red Notice serves as a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest an individual, with the aim of extraditing them. While it is not an international arrest warrant, it is intended to ensure that the person is taken into custody for further legal proceedings, as outlined on Interpol’s website. The Interpol Red Notice database currently contains information on over 6,500 individuals.
The arrest coincides with the Department of Homeland Security marking Secretary Kristi Noem’s 100th day in office. McLaughlin emphasized the significance of the arrest, stating that "This criminal illegal gang member and suspected terrorist should have never been released into our country. Thanks to President Trump and Secretary Noem, he is off our streets and will soon be out of our country."
This arrest is part of a broader effort by ICE, which has removed over 65,000 illegal aliens and made over 66,000 arrests since President Trump took office in January. These figures include thousands of individuals with existing criminal convictions who were also in the United States illegally.
Acting ICE Director Todd M. Lyons highlighted the agency’s mission, stating that "The brave men and women of ICE protect our families, friends and neighbors by removing public safety and national security threats from our communities." He further noted that during President Trump’s first 100 days, ICE has arrested over 65,000 illegal aliens — including 2,288 gang members from Tren de Aragua, MS-13, 18th Street and other gangs. Additionally, 1,329 were accused or convicted of sex offenses, and 498 were accused or convicted of murder.
The article also mentions a debate surrounding the legal processes afforded to alleged gang members, particularly those who have been to CECOT in El Salvador. The Trump administration has argued that members of designated foreign terrorist organizations, such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, should not receive the same legal protections as others. Democrats, on the other hand, have generally argued for due process for all individuals.
The piece also makes reference to the recent pronouncements of federal judges in New York and Texas, who blocked Trump deportations after a Supreme Court ruling.
The issue of gang violence and immigration has been a contentious topic in recent years. MS-13, in particular, has been associated with a range of violent crimes, including murder, drug trafficking, and extortion. The group’s origins can be traced back to Los Angeles in the 1980s, and it has since expanded its presence throughout the United States and Central America.
The Trump administration made combating MS-13 a key priority. Government officials argued that stricter immigration enforcement was necessary to disrupt the gang’s operations.
While the number of encounters at the border have declined in recent months, the underlying issues of immigration and border security continue to be debated in the United States.
The arrest of Mejia-Benitez underscores the ongoing efforts of ICE to target individuals who pose a threat to public safety and national security, particularly those affiliated with transnational gangs. The incident also highlights the complexities of immigration enforcement, including the challenges of tracking and deporting individuals who have reentered the country illegally.
