Law Enforcement Captures Top MS-13 Leader Near Washington DC as Media Remains Silent

Tough Law Enforcement Strikes Back Against Organized Crime

The long arm of the law just got a serious boost. Federal agents aren’t messing around when it comes to taking down dangerous criminal networks. A “high-ranking” MS-13 gang leader was caught in Hyattsville, Maryland—just six miles from the capital—and it shows that real progress is being made.

David Alejandro Orellana-Aleman, a 27-year-old Salvadoran national, was nabbed by hard-charging ICE agents working side-by-side with the FBI. He was accused of controlling operations for the notorious MS-13 gang not only in the U.S. but in Mexico and Europe too. This is the kind of move that sends a clear message: criminals have no safe haven here.

Acting Field Office Director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, Matthew Elliston, called this a “significant blow” to the MS-13 terrorist organization’s leadership. He said, “This arrest speaks volumes about the cooperation enjoyed between ICE and the FBI.” These words hit home — it’s a real win on both sides of the law.

The facts speak for themselves. Back in December 2016, Salvadoran authorities had already arrested Orellana-Aleman on charges of terrorist affiliation and other serious crimes related to his MS-13 ties. Yet he managed to slip into the U.S. unlawfully and evade inspection. His arrest by Prince George’s County Police on a minor charge of driving without a license only underscores the urgency for strong immigration law enforcement.

FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno didn’t mince words. He said, “Maryland is immediately safer because of this arrest.” He continued, “His arrest demonstrates the success we can have when we collectively investigate and disrupt violent criminals seeking to exploit our communities.” That’s a testament to a no-nonsense approach that works.

The Trump administration took bold steps from day one. It shed the old restrictions that impeded ICE’s power and paved the way for unyielding enforcement across the nation. With initiatives led by figures like Border Czar Tom Homan, the focus has been on a “worst first” policy—targeting illegal migrants guilty of the most heinous crimes like murder, sex trafficking, and drug trafficking.

What’s more, President Trump’s decisive stance has turned international heads. Leaders like El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele are now key allies. Following a productive chat with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Bukele has even offered up his country’s “mega-prison” to help detain deported MS-13 members and other international criminals. That’s real global muscle in the fight against crime.