Josue Flores/El Salvador/MS-13 Gang Member

Officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Josue Flores, a Salvadoran national and documented member of the MS-13 transnational criminal street gang, on November 20. The arrest was executed in coordination with federal partners during a targeted operation specifically designed to locate high-priority offenders. Authorities classified Flores as a criminal illegal alien with verified ties to the notorious criminal organization.

An ICE spokesman characterized the target of the operation as among “the worst of the worst” regarding criminal elements. Flores was taken into custody without incident and subsequently transferred to a federal detention facility. He remains detained while his immigration proceedings move forward. Officials noted that his documented membership in MS-13, a gang associated with severe violence and transnational crime, necessitated the coordinated federal response. Flores will continue to be held in custody pending the final resolution of his removal case.