(DCNF)—A top MS-13 leader was arrested early Thursday morning just outside of Washington, D.C., in the northern Virginia area, law enforcement leaders announced shortly afterward.
The individual, who law enforcement has yet to identify, was described as one of the top three leaders of MS-13 in the entire United States, according to a joint press conference given by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Virginia GOP Governor Glenn Youngkin and FBI Director Kash Patel. They hailed the arrest as a major victory in the Trump administration’s war against organized crime.
“He was the leader for the East Coast, one of the top three in the entire country, right here in Virginia, living half an hour outside of Washington, D.C.,” Bondi said Thursday. “He is an illegal alien from El Salvador and he will not be living in our country much longer.”
“America is safer today because one of the top domestic terrorists in MS-13 is off the streets,” Bondi continued, and gave credit to President Donald Trump for allowing law enforcement to better apprehend criminals across the country.
MS-13 in an international criminal syndicate tied to countless murders, rapes and other heinous crimes across the U.S. over the years. Although its origins began in Los Angeles, the gang is largely associated with Salvadoran nationals — and El Salvador President Nayib Bukele has taken great strides in incarcerating many MS-13 gang members in his mega-prison.
MS-13 was among the gangs and cartels that President Donald Trump designated as foreign terrorist organizations, enabling federal officials to better take enforcement actions against them.
“This is what happens when you let good cops be cops, and we’re going to continue to be cops across this country,” Patel said Thursday. “And if you are here illegally, you will not be here any longer, and if you are going to continue to commit acts of violent crime, you will meet the same fate that this individual did this morning.”
Youngkin, who was involved in the task force behind the major bust, stressed the importance of state and federal law enforcement partners working together to dismantle organized crime. He specifically encouraged other leaders to adopt 287(g) agreements, which deputize local police with immigration authorities, streamlining the arrest and deportation of criminal illegal migrants.
🚨 FBI PRESS CONFERENCE 🚨
.@ambermarieduke: "How long was this individual living in the United States illegally and operating as a leader of MS-13?"
FBI DIRECTOR PATEL: "The bottom line is–for FAR too long…. If you're here for a minute, a day, a month, or a year you've been… pic.twitter.com/ZQ1VO3told
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) March 27, 2025
“Listen, it’s time for us to recognize that Virginia is not a sanctuary state,” Youngkin said. “We are working to get the bad guys out of here, and if you are a local jurisdiction and not helping us and not cooperating with us, you are working against the safety of all of those men and women that call your jurisdiction home.”
Officials confirmed that the Thursday arrest took place in Dale City, Virginia, roughly a one-hour drive south from Washington, D.C. They also noted that law enforcement actions have dramatically ticked up since Trump returned to the White House — arrests in Virginia have increased 468% in the last four weeks compared to the same period last year, according to Bondi.
In less than a month, law enforcement officials in Virginia have arrested 342 individuals, many of them being illegal migrants, U.S. Attorney of Virginia’s Eastern District Erik Siebert said. Of those 342 arrested, 81 were identified as individuals with gang or transnational crime affiliation.
“MS -13 — they are organized, they are violent, they are committing homicides throughout our country,” Bondi said. “They are one of the most dangerous gangs in our country and we are going to fight until they are completely dismantled.”
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Why the National Debt Is the Looming Threat to Your Retirement Plans
The Hidden Crisis No One Is Talking About
Every day, headlines warn about inflation, market volatility, and global instability—but the greatest looming threat to your retirement might be something far more fundamental: America’s skyrocketing national debt.
You can learn more about how the national debt affects you by reading this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“.
With debt growing faster than most Americans can possibly fathom, the government’s borrowing habits have reached historic—and dangerous—levels. To cover spending, Washington is making moves with their budget packages, tariffs, and taxes. Is it enough? No. It’s not even close to what would be necessary to stop out-of-control debt, let alone reverse it.
How Debt Erodes Your Nest Egg
There are only so many levers government and the Federal Reserve can pull to try to protect Americans, assuming that’s even a top priority for them. Unfortunately, pulling one level to relive one pressure invariably adds pressure from another direction. This is why prices keep going up even as inflation reportedly slows.
For retirees and pre-retirees, that’s a perfect storm. The dollars you’ve worked hard to save lose value, and your cost of living increases while your investments lag behind.
If you’re relying solely on paper-based assets—stocks, bonds, or mutual funds—you’re essentially tied to the same system that’s creating the problem. It’s a system that was designed to work well in the 20th century, not in today’s world with people living longer and the dollar rapidly losing value.
This is why the 3-minute report, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now,” is so important.
The Precious Metals Hedge
Thousands of Americans are looking for a tangible, time-tested hedge: physical gold and silver.
Unlike paper assets, precious metals aren’t dependent on government policy or the stock market’s mood swings. They’re real, finite resources that have maintained value for thousands of years through wars, recessions, and inflationary periods.
In fact, during times of high inflation and fiscal instability, gold often performs its best—because it’s seen as a store of value when faith in the dollar weakens. This is why prices have skyrocketed this year and are expected by many economists to continue going up in the future.
Take Control with a Gold IRA
One of the most effective ways to protect your retirement from national debt fallout is through a self-directed Gold IRA. This IRS-approved account lets you hold physical gold and silver within your retirement portfolio, giving you:
- Direct ownership of your assets
- A hedge against inflation and dollar decline
- The control to diversify beyond Wall Street
Augusta Precious Metals specializes in helping Americans just like you take this step with confidence. The company has earned a strong reputation for transparency, education, and personalized service—making it one of the most trusted names in the industry.
The Next Step: Secure Your Financial Future
Augusta Precious Metals has helped thousands of Americans with at least $50,000 to invest from their IRAs, 401(K)s, TSPs, and other retirement accounts safeguard their savings through precious metals.
If you’re concerned about what the rising national debt could mean for your future, now is the time to act.
Read this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“ and learn the simple steps you can take to protect your retirement.
