Joel Armando Mejia-Benitez, an MS-13 gang member wanted in El Salvador, was arrested in Maryland by ICE nearly 20 years after his deportation. Authorities highlighted his extensive gang tattoos, symbolizing his allegiance to MS-13. His arrest illustrates the persistent issues of gang infiltration in the U.S., as he had previously been deported but returned, prompting ICE to emphasize their commitment to public safety and the removal of dangerous individuals threatening local communities. This incident coincided with the sentencing of another MS-13 member for heinous crimes in New York.
The arrest of this violent MS-13 gang member is a critical step in our ongoing mission to safeguard our communities, ICE Baltimore Acting Field Office Director Nikita Baker stated.
Mejia-Benitez then snuck back into the US and was arrested again on March 20, 2014, demonstrating the challenges authorities face in controlling gang reinfiltration.
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