Federal immigration authorities have successfully removed a high-ranking MS-13 gang leader from the United States, marking the fourth deportation of the same individual since 2007, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.
Wilmer Alexi Garcia-Manzanarez, a Salvadoran national who entered the country illegally, was deported by ICE’s Boston field office on November 26, the agency announced in an official statement. The deportation represents a significant victory in ongoing efforts to combat transnational gang activity within U.S. borders.
Garcia-Manzanarez holds a particularly dangerous profile within the criminal organization. ICE identified him as a “known MS-13 gang leader and subject of Interpol Red Notices for homicide and terrorist affiliation,” highlighting the international scope of his alleged criminal activities.
The timing of this deportation coincides with heightened federal attention on MS-13 operations. The State Department officially designated the gang as both a foreign terrorist organization and a specially designated global terrorist entity in February, elevating the priority level for prosecuting and removing its members from American communities.
This case underscores the persistent challenges facing border security agencies in preventing repeat illegal entries. Garcia-Manzanarez had been previously removed from the United States on three separate occasions between 2007 and 2023, demonstrating the determination of criminal elements to repeatedly breach immigration controls.
The successful identification and removal of Garcia-Manzanarez represents coordinated efforts between multiple law enforcement agencies, including international cooperation through Interpol’s Red Notice system. These notices serve as requests to locate and provisionally arrest individuals pending extradition or other legal action.
MS-13, formally known as Mara Salvatrucha, has established a significant presence across numerous American cities, particularly affecting communities with large Central American immigrant populations. The gang’s activities typically include drug trafficking, extortion, human trafficking, and violent crimes that terrorize local neighborhoods.
Federal immigration enforcement agencies continue prioritizing the removal of gang members and other criminal aliens as part of broader public safety initiatives. The Boston field office’s success in this case reflects ongoing efforts to dismantle transnational criminal networks operating within the United States.
