‘MS-13 Kingpin’ Arrested In ICE Operation – One Of “El Salvador’s Top 100 Most Wanted Fugitives”

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested a man from El Salvador described as an “MS-13 kingpin” in a joint law enforcement operation.

Homeland Security Investigations arrested the man in Omaha, Nebraska, calling him one of “El Salvador’s top 100 most wanted fugitives.”

“The Salvadoran national is a criminal alien wanted in El Salvador for the aggravated homicide of five victims; attempted aggravated homicide; deprivation of liberty; and terrorist organization affiliation,” ICE stated in a press release.

“The criminal alien was apprehended alongside an MS-13 associate he was residing with and who was also in the United States illegally,” it added.

Fox News provided coverage of the arrest:

ICE has arrested an MS-13 kingpin in Nebraska who is wanted for five murders.

Despite being on El Salvador’s ‘100 most wanted’ list since 2016, he was released into the U.S. under the Biden admin.

Thank you to the heroes of @ICEgov for getting this scumbag off the streets. pic.twitter.com/DHhSlSQhhi

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 10, 2025

“When ICE agents move in to make an arrest, it is extremely important that the public not interfere,” ICE acting Director Todd M. Lyons said.

“The misinformation, and sometimes blatant lies, being spread around the country could result in someone stepping into a federal operation and suddenly finding themselves face-to-face with a killer who has nothing to lose,” he added.

More from ICE:

Both individuals were arrested without incident in a targeted enforcement action. They had embedded themselves in the Omaha area, where they posed severe threats to the local community’s safety.

“These illegal aliens didn’t just sneak into our country; they brought with them a legacy of violence, terror and death,” said HSI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Mark Zito, whose office oversees Omaha. “They thought they could hide in America’s heartland, but they were sadly mistaken. Not on our watch.”

HSI, ICE’s Enforcement Removal Operations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are conducting the investigation.

“Our ICE officers and agents are protecting your neighborhoods, even when you don’t know the threat is there, so either support them or get out of the way,” concluded Lyons.

“Early this morning in the Omaha, Nebraska area, ICE arrested a MS-13 kingpin who is wanted for five aggravated murders in El Salvador and is on the country’s most wanted fugitives list, multiple ICE officials tell @FoxNews. ICE also arrested a MS-13 associate he was living with, 30-year-old Rene Saul Escobar Ochoa, who is also wanted in El Salvador for allegedly giving orders to fellow gang members to commit multiple murders,” Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin wrote, sharing footage of the arrests.

Check it out:

EXCLUSIVE: Early this morning in the Omaha, Nebraska area, ICE arrested a MS-13 kingpin who is wanted for five aggravated murders in El Salvador and is on the country’s most wanted fugitives list, multiple ICE officials tell @FoxNews. ICE also arrested a MS-13 associate he was… pic.twitter.com/1hXIirkxaX

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) July 9, 2025

Nebraska Examiner noted:

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, in a statement on Thursday, said the Nebraska State Patrol had shared intelligence gathered by the Nebraska Information Analysis Center on the presence of the two men in Omaha.

“We are now able to confirm publicly that yesterday’s MS-13 arrests are the direct result of incredible work by our team at the Nebraska State Patrol,” Pillen said. “This is a great example of a strong state-federal partnership — and how valuable that communication and coordination is to keeping Nebraskans safe.”