Three alleged MS-13 gang members are in Nassau County police custody after a joint operation conducted on August 8 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) New York City, the Nassau County Police Department, and the FBI. ICE reported that two of the individuals entered the United States illegally during the Biden administration. All three face various criminal charges, including attempted murder, gang assault, and weapons offenses.
ICE has issued immigration detainers for all three suspects and will take them into custody following their release from local authorities.
“America is no longer a dumping ground for foreign criminals and gang members,” said acting ICE Director Todd M. Lyons. “ICE will continue to find, arrest and remove MS-13 and other terrorists who come here to wreak havoc on communities and destroy this nation.”
The first suspect, Elias Wilfredo Serrano Bonilla, age 21 from El Salvador, entered the U.S. prior to December 2016. He was previously arrested in January 2020 on charges of first-degree assault and first-degree gang assault. On August 8, he was charged with multiple offenses including eight counts of attempted murder; several counts of assault with intent to cause serious injury with a weapon; robbery while threatening use of a dangerous instrument; conspiracy; criminal possession of a weapon; among others. Serrano remains in Nassau County police custody.
The second suspect, Edras Daniel Velasquez Giron, age 19 from Honduras, entered the U.S. before June 2022. An immigration judge ordered him removed to Honduras in September 2023 in absentia. On August 8, he was charged with six counts of attempted murder as well as various degrees of assault and weapons charges. Velasquez also remains in Nassau County police custody.
The third individual is Jeffrey Bladimir Valladares Archaga, age 20 from Honduras. He entered the U.S. near Calexico, California in 2022. He was arrested by Nassau County police on July 17 for fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon (firearm/weapon), third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and driving without a license.
ICE has reiterated that immigration detainers have been placed against each individual currently held by Nassau County Police Department.
For more information about ICE’s public safety mission visit their X account at @ICEgov.
