In Maryland, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made a well-known arrest Monday. Joel Armando Mejia-Benitez, 38, is an El Salvadorian “validated MS-13 gang member” who did not have any “approved or pending” visas at the time of his detention, according to DHS.
“ICE Baltimore authorities apprehended Joel Armando Mejia-Benitez, a member of MS-13, with an Interpol Red Notice. He first entered the U.S. illegally in 2005 and was subsequently deported. He reentered the country at an undetermined time before his arrest by HSI Baltimore in 2014. Following this, he received a notice to appear and was released back into Silver Spring, MD,”
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement.
To “locate and provisionally arrest” someone, the international legal organization issues an Interpol Red Notice. According to Interpol’s website, it’s not an “international arrest warrant” rather, it’s intended to ensure that someone is detained until additional legal proceedings. There are more than 6,500 people on the Red Notice database.
The arrest was made on Monday, the 100th day that Secretary Kristi Noem has led the Department of Homeland Security.
“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,”
McLaughlin continued.
The most recent arrest occurs as ICE announces more than 65,000 removals of undocumented immigrants and over 66,000 arrests since Trump assumed office in January. This includes thousands who have prior criminal convictions in addition to being in the country unlawfully.
“The brave men and women of ICE protect our families, friends and neighbours by removing public safety and national security threats from our communities,”
ICE acting Director Todd M. Lyons said in a statement.
“During President Trump’s first 100 days, ICE alone 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 offences, and 498 were accused or convicted of murder.”
El Salvador’s CECOT has received plaudits for the large number of accused gang members who have visited, but it has also sparked a heated discussion about who is entitled to due process. While many others, including Democrats, have contended that members of designated foreign terrorist organizations, such as MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, do not face the same legal procedures, the Trump administration has maintained that they do. In the meanwhile, interactions at the border have drastically decreased in the last few months.
