Tren de Aragua and MS-13 members are among the thousands detained as the FBI and DHS ramp up enforcement efforts.
FBI Director Kash Patel on Thursday said the agency has detained and arrested over 6,000 individuals in its immigration enforcement efforts in the first months of the Trump administration.
Among those apprehended were 310 members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and 136 members of MS-13, a transnational criminal organization founded by immigrants from El Salvador, according to Patel.
“FBI leadership just received an update on our immigration efforts since January 20, 2025,” Patel stated in a post on the social media platform X on April 17, expressing gratitude towards the current administration, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and regional law enforcement partners for their collaborative efforts in enhancing national security. “We have so much more to do,” he said.
FBI leadership just received an update on our immigration efforts since January 20, 2025. As of this morning:
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) April 17, 2025
Over 6,000 subjects detained and arrested
310 Tren de Aragua members
136 MS-13 members
We have so much more to do. But thanks to the leadership of this…
The crackdown aligns with the administration’s broader strategy to combat illegal immigration and associated criminal activities. On his first day in office, Trump designated Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization, facilitating a coordinated governmental approach to dismantle the gang’s operations.
Tren de Aragua, originally from Venezuela, has been linked to various criminal activities, including drug trafficking and violent crimes across the United States.
Recent operations have led to multiple arrests across the country. In March, authorities arrested over 40 individuals in Texas connected to the gang. Similarly, in early April, six suspected members were apprehended in Mobile, Alabama.
FBI Mobile in conjunction with HSI, ERO, ATF, Border Patrol, and Mobile Police Department arrested 6 suspected members of Tren de Aragua today. A giant thanks to our state, local, and federal partners. pic.twitter.com/s6QsIuOnzi
— FBI Mobile (@FBIMobileAL) April 9, 2025
The Department of Homeland Security says the gang is responsible for the high-profile murders of nursing student Laken Riley and 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray.
MS-13, known for its violent activities, has also been a focal point of the administration’s enforcement actions. For instance, in early April, a high-ranking MS-13 leader wanted for multiple murders was arrested in Long Island, New York.
These enforcement actions have not been without controversy. The administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to expedite deportations has faced legal challenges and criticism from Democratic lawmakers.
By Chase Smith
