David Alejandro Orellana-Aleman/El Salvador/Possession of a Firearm

On February 27, 2025, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested 27-year-old Salvadoran national David Alejandro Orellana-Aleman in Hyattsville, Md. Orellana-Aleman, who was unlawfully present in the United States, is facing multiple charges in El Salvador, including possession of a firearm, extortion, and terrorist affiliation.

Orellana-Aleman has been identified as a senior leader within the transnational criminal organization MS-13. According to ICE, he maintained command over the gang’s operations in the United States, Mexico, and Europe. His role within the organization is believed to involve oversight of drug distribution networks, recruitment of new members, and coordination of violent acts against rival gangs and perceived enemies. He is one of the highest-ranking MS-13 members known to have operated inside the U.S.

At the time of his arrest, he was located at a residence in Hyattsville and taken into custody without incident. Authorities confirmed that Orellana-Aleman had entered the U.S. illegally and did not have lawful immigration status. Following his arrest, he was processed by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations and is now in custody awaiting removal proceedings.

The arrest of a figure of his stature draws attention to the extensive reach MS-13 maintains in U.S. communities and the level of organization that supports their criminal activities across international borders. Orellana-Aleman remains in ICE detention while legal proceedings are underway regarding his immigration status and pending charges from El Salvador.