ICE Arrests MS-13 Gang Member Wanted by Interpol, Previously Released Into U.S.

A known MS-13 gang member wanted by international authorities was arrested in Maryland this week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed.

As Fox News reported, the suspect, Joel Armando Mejia-Benitez, 38, is a Salvadoran national with a violent criminal record and an active Interpol Red Notice against him.

Joel Armando Mejia-Benitez, 38, is a “validated MS-13 gang member” from El Salvador who had no visas “approved or pending” at the moment of his arrest. pic.twitter.com/hkRo7DmHFo

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According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Mejia-Benitez is a validated member of the violent MS-13 gang and was apprehended by ICE agents in Baltimore on Monday.

He had previously entered the U.S. illegally in 2005, was deported, and later re-entered the country at an unknown date.

“ICE Baltimore arrested Joel Armando Mejia-Benitez, an MS-13 gang member with an Interpol Red Notice,” DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News Digital in an exclusive statement.

“He first entered the country illegally in 2005 and was deported. He then reentered our country at an unknown date before he was arrested by HIS Baltimore in 2014. He was issued a notice to appear and released back into Silver Spring, MD.”

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At the time of his most recent arrest, Mejia-Benitez had no pending or approved visa status, according to DHS. The Interpol Red Notice issued for Mejia-Benitez signals a request for his provisional arrest and alerts authorities across participating nations.

Though it does not carry the weight of an international arrest warrant, it is used to facilitate detention and legal follow-up.

ICE’s latest action comes amid a wave of immigration enforcement efforts carried out under the Trump administration. Since President Trump took office in January, ICE reports over 66,000 arrests and more than 65,000 removals of illegal aliens, many with serious criminal convictions.

“The brave men and women of ICE protect our families, friends and neighbors by removing public safety and national security threats from our communities,” ICE acting Director Todd M. Lyons said.

“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 offenses, and 498 were accused or convicted of murder.”

The Trump administration has also emphasized that certain foreign nationals affiliated with designated terrorist organizations, including MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, are not entitled to the same legal protections extended to other foreign nationals.

This position has sparked ongoing debate with Democrats who continue to advocate broader legal protections for all non-citizens.

In El Salvador, many former MS-13 and Tren de Aragua members have been detained in CECOT, a maximum-security prison built for gang control.

While praised for restoring public safety in some areas, the detention practices have also ignited controversy over due process and human rights.

Mejia-Benitez’s arrest follows a notable drop in illegal border crossings in recent months, as Trump administration policies continue to reshape immigration enforcement nationwide.

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