Law enforcement in Nassau County, New York, has dealt a major blow to MS-13, arresting three illegal alien gang members on a mountain of violent crime charges — all in a state that has shielded such criminals through sanctuary policies.

The arrests came as part of a joint operation involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Nassau County Police Department, and the FBI. Taken into custody were 21-year-old Elias Wilfredo Serrano Bonilla of El Salvador, 19-year-old Edras Daniel Velasquez Giron of Honduras, and 20-year-old Jeffrey Bladimir Valladares Archaga of Honduras — all confirmed MS-13 members. ICE has issued detainers for each, ensuring federal custody if they are ever released from jail.

Serrano Bonilla, who first entered the U.S. illegally under the Obama administration, was previously arrested in 2020 on gang-related assault charges. This time, his charges include eight counts of attempted murder, armed robbery, multiple gang assault counts, conspiracy, and a long list of weapons offenses.

Velasquez Giron crossed into the U.S. before June 2022, during the Biden administration. A federal judge ordered him deported in 2023 after he skipped his immigration hearing. His rap sheet now includes six counts of attempted murder, gang assault, conspiracy, and numerous armed assault charges.

Valladares Archaga entered illegally in 2022, also under Biden, near Calexico, California. He was arrested on charges of illegal weapons possession, unlicensed driving, and aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle.

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons made it clear the agency is stepping up under the Trump administration’s renewed crackdown. “America is no longer a dumping ground for foreign criminals and gang members,” he said. “ICE will continue to find, arrest, and remove MS-13 and other terrorists who come here to wreak havoc on communities and destroy this nation.”

In total, the operation has resulted in 14 attempted murder charges and 49 assault charges, along with robberies, weapons possession, and other felonies. All three remain in local custody, but ICE intends to ensure they do not slip through the cracks — a risk heightened in sanctuary jurisdictions like New York, where cooperation with federal immigration enforcement is often refused.

Critics of sanctuary laws point to cases like this as proof that the policies create safe havens for dangerous criminals. In each of these instances, the suspects were already in the U.S. illegally and had prior encounters with law enforcement before committing more crimes. The latest arrests highlight how quickly such individuals can re-offend when not deported immediately.

MS-13, originally founded in Los Angeles by Salvadoran immigrants, has become infamous for its brutality, including machete attacks and targeted assassinations. The gang has deep roots on Long Island, where it has been linked to multiple murders and violent assaults over the past decade. Federal officials say the August 8 arrests are just one step in a broader effort to dismantle its network in the U.S.

While the suspects await trial, their cases have reignited the debate over border enforcement, immigration policy, and the impact of sanctuary laws. With ICE pledging “relentless” pursuit of gang members and other violent illegal aliens, more arrests are likely on the horizon — but in places like New York, the fight between federal agents and state policies is far from over.