Trump Crackdown Forces Desperate MS-13 Gang Members Into Retreat

America is getting its streets back and violent foreign gangs are on the run. According to a senior Department of Homeland Security official, President Trump’s aggressive, early actions targeting illegal immigrant gangs like MS-13 are already paying off, with cartel thugs becoming increasingly "desperate" as the heat turns up.

Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News Digital that designating MS-13 and similar groups as terrorist organizations is giving the Trump administration broader powers to deport violent criminals. And the results are showing.

“These gangs are getting increasingly desperate,” McLaughlin said. “That just gives us broader authorities … as far as deportations go.”

In just the first 100 days of Trump’s renewed leadership, 2,394 illegal immigrant gang members have been arrested a staggering figure that marks only the beginning of what McLaughlin called a long-term, uncompromising crackdown.

Key components of the Trump administration’s success include:

• Reviving and expanding the 287(g) program, allowing local law enforcement to act as immigration officers.

• Targeted partnerships with police, who understand local gang networks and can identify violent offenders more effectively.

• Designation of MS-13 and Tren de Aragua as terrorist threats, unlocking new deportation tools.

This strategy has proven to be both effective and efficient. McLaughlin revealed that many illegal immigrants are already reversing course.

“Self-deportation is definitely happening… and that’s what we want,” she noted. “It’s a lot cheaper an average deportation and arrest is like $17,000.”

Fewer arrests mean reduced risk for law enforcement officers who face off against some of the world’s most brutal gang members. The Trump team’s approach is not only fiscally sound but also critical for public safety.

One of the most high-profile takedowns came in March, when a joint operation by the FBI, ATF, ICE, and local police led to the arrest of Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos, a 24-year-old Salvadoran national and top MS-13 leader operating in Virginia. That arrest sent shockwaves through the gang’s U.S. presence and proved Trump’s law-and-order agenda is more than just talk.

It’s a stark contrast to the chaos under Joe Biden, where over 6 million illegal border encounters have occurred since 2021 and gangs like MS-13 flourished in sanctuary cities. Under Trump, the message is clear: America is not a safe haven for violent thugs and cartel enforcers.

“This is just the beginning,” McLaughlin said. “We want to get these arrest numbers up… and that’s what we’re going to deliver on.”

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