Antonio Ramirez Lopez/El Salvador/Identity Theft

On May 15, 2025, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers apprehended 40-year-old Antonio Ramirez Lopez, a previously deported criminal alien and confirmed MS-13 gang member. Lopez, a citizen of El Salvador, had unlawfully reentered the United States after being deported in 2012. His original removal followed a conviction for identity theft, a felony offense that led to his initial arrest and subsequent deportation over a decade ago.

Lopez was located during a targeted enforcement operation aimed at identifying noncitizens with prior removals and significant criminal histories. His gang affiliation with MS-13, a transnational criminal organization known for its violent activities, was a major factor in prioritizing his case for enforcement. Upon his apprehension, authorities confirmed that he had not sought lawful admission or parole into the United States after his earlier deportation, making his presence in the country a federal offense.

ICE officers reinstated his prior removal order, and Lopez has since been placed in ICE custody to await deportation proceedings. Due to his criminal past and ties to a known gang, Lopez will be subject to expedited removal. ICE officials have stated that he will remain in detention until arrangements for his removal are finalized.