The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reported arrests of several individuals considered national security threats during the first year of the Trump administration. The announcement, made by DHS on January 26, 2026, details actions taken by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since January 20, 2025.
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated, “Just a year ago, under Joe Biden, our border was wide-open and criminals, gang members, and terrorists were released into our communities. President Trump and Secretary Noem unleashed ICE to target the worst of the worst, including national security threats. In one year of the Trump administration, ICE has arrested national security threats—making America safe again. We are delivering on the American people’s mandate to make America safe again, and we’re just getting started.”
Among those arrested are individuals associated with groups such as Tren de Aragua, MS-13, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Highlighted cases include Leonel Alexander Velasquez-Hernandez from El Salvador who is known to be an MS-13 gang member. He had been arrested for crimes including murder and assault before being ordered removed in 2025 and deported in January 2026.
Another case involves Chasib Hafedh Saadoon Al Fawadi from Iraq. Identified as a member of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq—a designated foreign terrorist organization—he faced charges such as rape and possession of a weapon. He was convicted on federal charges related to immigration fraud and was arrested by ICE in November 2025.
Gaulner Uliel Pineda Castillo from Guatemala is a known associate of MS-13 involved in kidnapping plots with other gang members. He was detained in Virginia in April 2025 and removed later that month.
Mahmoud Amin Mohamed Elhassan from Sudan had previously been convicted for attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization; he was arrested by ICE in June 2025.
Fares Abdo Al Eyani from Yemen had prior convictions for conspiracy related to unlawful export of defense articles; he was apprehended by ICE in California in January 2025.
Ashraf Farhan Husny Sulaiman from Jordan had faced charges related to transporting stolen property and conspiracy against the United States; his arrest took place in December 2025 after having a removal order since 2015.
Majid Ghorbani from Iran served in that country’s military before being charged with acting as an unregistered agent for a foreign government. He also faced conviction for violating economic sanctions laws before being removed by ICE in September 2025.
