Federal immigration officers arrested 24 individuals during a targeted enforcement operation in Bellefonte, Penn., on August 19, including a suspected MS-13 gang member with a prior homicide arrest and several others with serious criminal records.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the operation was carried out by Enforcement and Removal Operations Philadelphia and focused on immigration violators identified through an ongoing investigation. The individuals were intercepted near Interstate 99 following a surveillance operation and multiple traffic stops.
Among those arrested was Oscar Alexis Martinez-Lopez, an illegal alien from El Salvador and suspected member of the violent transnational MS-13 gang. ICE officials said Martinez-Lopez had previously been arrested in El Salvador for homicide. Also taken into custody was Delfin Amaya-Peres, a Honduran national with prior U.S. convictions for assault, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest dating back to 2011.
“ICE is focusing on the worst first through targeted enforcement. However, it is also a crime to live in this country illegally,” said Brian McShane, field office director for ERO Philadelphia. “Knowing this, ICE has been empowered to vigorously search out, arrest and remove anyone violating federal immigration law.”
In total, the operation resulted in 24 arrests. ICE reported that:
- One of the individuals arrested had a prior conviction for assault;
- One was identified as an MS-13 gang member and homicide suspect;
- Seven had final orders of removal, with four orders reinstated during the operation;
- Four had previously been expelled under Title 42.
The enforcement effort was part of ICE’s ongoing initiative to prioritize the removal of noncitizens who pose public safety threats. ERO Philadelphia emphasized that operations of this nature are necessary to uphold immigration law and disrupt criminal networks.
All individuals remain in ICE custody pending further removal proceedings.
