Earlier this month, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested Antonio Israel Lazo-Quintanilla, a confirmed member of the 18th Street Gang who was on El Salvador’s most wanted list. While his only offense in the United States is driving without a license, authorities in El Salvador have charged him with aggravated homicide, extortion, drug possession, and other felonies.
ICE officials emphasized that many individuals labeled as “non-criminals” by some media outlets may still pose significant risks due to their backgrounds abroad. According to ICE, 70% of illegal aliens arrested by the agency have been charged or convicted of crimes within the United States. However, this figure does not include gang members, terrorists, human rights abusers, or foreign fugitives who do not have criminal records in the U.S.
“70% of ICE arrests are of criminal illegal aliens charged or convicted of a crime in the United States,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “This gang member on El Salvador’s most wanted list is a perfect example of ICE targeting the worst of the worst. He may lack a violent rap sheet in the U.S. but this criminal illegal alien is clearly a public safety threat. The media’s false claims that ICE is not arresting the worst of the worst simply has no grounding. In reality, ICE is arresting criminal illegal aliens BEFORE they can victimize Americans.”
ICE maintains that its enforcement efforts focus on individuals who represent public safety threats regardless of whether they have prior convictions in the United States.
