ICE arrests MS-13 gang member with 30 arrests after county refuses detainers
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently made a significant arrest, taking into custody a documented MS-13 gang member with a lengthy criminal record. Mykol Santos-Santos, a 25-year-old Guatemalan national who is in the country illegally, was apprehended by ICE in Fairfax, Virginia. During the arrest, an ICE officer was injured as Santos-Santos resisted.
Santos-Santos has a troubling history of charges and convictions, including assault and battery, burglary, credit card fraud, trespassing, drug crimes, property damage, obstruction of justice, attempting to flee police, failure to appear, and violating court orders. His criminal record spans over 15 pages, with more than 30 arrests by Fairfax County police and 16 immigration detainers lodged against him in the last three years.
ICE’s decision to arrest Santos-Santos came after the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center refused to honor the 16th immigration detainer placed against him. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Washington, D.C. Field Office Director, Russell Hott, emphasized the dangerous nature of Santos-Santos, describing him as a habitual offender and a documented member of a violent criminal gang. Hott criticized local law enforcement for not cooperating with ICE and highlighted the risks posed by individuals like Santos-Santos to Virginia communities.
Despite Santos-Santos illegally entering the U.S. in 2014 and having a deportation order issued in 2023, local authorities failed to take action, leading ICE to make the arrest. The incident underscores the challenges faced by ICE in enforcing immigration laws and ensuring public safety in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies.
The arrest of Santos-Santos serves as a reminder of the importance of cooperation between federal and local authorities in addressing threats posed by criminal aliens. ICE remains committed to prioritizing the safety of communities by apprehending and removing individuals like Santos-Santos who pose a danger to society.
