Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) captured a “known MS-13 illegal alien” who barricaded himself inside an Orlando-area residence on Friday.
According to an ICE press release, the individual barricaded himself in response to a targeted arrest operation.
“We appreciate our partners from the FBI and Florida Highway Patrol for their fantastic work during this intense situation,” according to the announcement.
According to federal officials, MS-13 is a violent transnational gang mostly composed of immigrants or descendants of immigrants from El Salvador that has been active in the United States since at least the 1980s.
The term is abbreviation for “Mara Salvatrucha,” which apparently translates as follows:
- In El Salvador, the phrase “Mara” means “gang.”
- “Salvatrucha” is a mix of the words “salva” and “trucha,” which basically translate to “salvadoran” and “cunning,” respectively.
- The gang’s affiliation to the Mexican Mafia, a prison gang, is symbolised by the use of the thirteenth letter (M) in their name.
While federal officials claim MS-13 originated in Los Angeles, the gang has subsequently spread throughout the country, with over 10,000 members in the United States by 2017.
There is currently no other information available about Friday’s arrest, including the identification of the individual in question.
