When President Donald Trump cracked down on illegal immigrant gangs, his government priorities during his first 100 days in office, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials said violent foreign gangs like MS-13 felt the heat.
"These gangs are becoming increasingly desperate," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News Digital. "It is undoubtedly helpful to designate MS-13 and other gangs as terrorists. In terms of deportation, it's just giving us a wider range of authorities."
Starting immediately after taking office, McLaughlin said the Trump administration began working with local law enforcement as part of the 287(g) program, especially because of their knowledge of the local gang scene.
Donald Trump is holding a tattoo photo on Abrego Garcia's knuckle in the Oval Office, and the White House says it's related to the MS-13 terrorist group. (Donald Trump Truth Society)
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“Of course, part of the reason we are going to enforce law on behalf of national and local is that we need more law enforcement agencies, but they also know where they are and they can help us really target these people and take them out of the country,” she said.
McLaughlin told Fox News Digital that so far, 2,394 illegal immigrant gang members have been arrested since Trump took office, adding that it is just the cusp of what the administration intends to achieve.
"It's just the beginning," she said. "It's just 100 days. We want to get these arrest numbers. We want MS-13, Tren de Aragua (these really bad actors) to leave our country. That's what we're going to achieve."
Homeland Security Minister Kristi Noem spoke during a visit to the terrorist lockdown centre in El Salvador on March 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
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Trump’s early efforts were not overlooked by possible illegal immigration, McLaughlin said McLaughlin was turning the route instead of trying to cross the border, and illegal immigration already existed in the country.
The MS-13 gang tattooed prisoner looks from the cell as Homeland Security Minister Kristi Noem visits the terrorist lockdown center in Tecoluca, El Salvador on March 26, 2025. (Alex Brandon/Pool/AFP)
"Self-extension is definitely happening. I mean, we saw it in our app (the CBP Home app)," McLaughlin said. "That's what we want because it's much cheaper. The average deportation and arrests are about $17,000. It's very expensive, and it's probably conservative."
Kash Patel
McLaughlin notes that when illegal immigrants deceive themselves, it also reduces the dangers of law enforcement agencies that are life-threatening and physically arresting dangerous criminals.
Ero Boston announced the arrest of 30-year-old Angel Gabriel Deras-Mejia, an illegal immigrant and a recorded member of MS-13 on September 12. (ICE ERO-BOSTON)
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One of the Trump administration's main victories in the MS-13 war was at the end of March, when the FBI worked with the Prince William County Police Department, ATF, ICE and Virginia State Police to arrest 24-year-old El Salvadorian state Henrry Josue Josue Villatoro Santos.