Staff Reports
Federal authorities have achieved a significant victory in the fight against gang violence with the arrest of Henry Josue Villatoro Santos, a top MS-13 leader operating on the East Coast. The 24-year-old Salvadoran national, living unlawfully in the United States, was apprehended early Thursday morning in Prince William County, Virginia, as part of a major operation spearheaded by a newly formed interagency task force under President Donald Trump’s administration. This arrest marks a critical milestone in efforts to dismantle one of the most dangerous transnational criminal organizations.
Attorney General Pam Bondi hailed the operation as a triumph for law enforcement and public safety. “America is safer today because one of the top domestic terrorists in MS-13 is off the streets,” Bondi stated during a press conference. She emphasized that Villatoro Santos was overseeing MS-13’s East Coast operations and had been recruited into the gang at a young age—a testament to the gang’s ruthless tactics and extensive reach. Bondi credited President Trump’s directive to prioritize gang eradication and immigration enforcement for enabling such successes.
The operation, conducted by a task force comprising federal, state, and local agencies, utilized advanced surveillance technology to locate Villatoro Santos at his mother’s home in Woodbridge, Virginia. FBI Director Kash Patel praised the collaboration between agencies, noting that this model of law enforcement coordination has led to over 340 arrests of illegal migrant criminals in Virginia this month alone. Patel declared, “This is what happens when you let good cops be cops,” underscoring the administration’s commitment to restoring law and order.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin also celebrated the arrest, highlighting his state’s proactive stance against gang activity. Youngkin criticized sanctuary cities for obstructing federal immigration enforcement and reaffirmed Virginia’s commitment to removing dangerous individuals from its communities. “Virginia is not a sanctuary state,” he stated. “We are working to get the bad guys out of here.” Youngkin further noted that this task force serves as an example for other states grappling with gang violence.
The broader implications of this arrest extend beyond Virginia. MS-13, known for its brutal violence and extortion tactics, has long been classified as a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration. The gang originated in Los Angeles but has since grown into a sprawling network with thousands of members across the U.S., Mexico, and Central America. The administration’s strategy includes deporting convicted gang members to El Salvador, where authorities are actively working to incarcerate them.
This decisive action sends a strong message: violent gangs like MS-13 will face relentless pursuit and accountability under President Trump’s leadership. With communities across America yearning for safety and stability, such operations provide hope that law enforcement can reclaim neighborhoods from criminal networks. As Bondi aptly stated, “We want to make our streets safer. We want to make our schools safer. We want to make your neighborhoods safer.”
