An individual believed to be a member of the notorious MS-13 gang, who had been deported from the United States on six occasions, was apprehended in Texas for allegedly murdering a man mere hours before.
Luis Miguel Perez-Miranda, aged 34, was arrested on Monday for the crime of murder. He is accused of fatally stabbing a man in a small community located near Houston.
Why It Matters
This Article Includes
Originating in Los Angeles, MS-13 is a criminal gang comprised of immigrants. The administration of President Donald Trump recently designated it as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). During the presidential election campaign last year, groups like MS-13 became a central topic in anti-immigration discussions following a series of high-profile crimes involving gang members.
What To Know
Julian Salas Lopez, whose age remains undisclosed, lost his life in a tragic incident in the Colony Ridge subdivision of Plum Grove. According to a criminal complaint obtained by Newsweek, he was fatally stabbed with an unidentified object on Monday. It is worth mentioning that Plum Grove is a predominantly Latino community.
Perez-Miranda was apprehended by a collaborative effort between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office. This successful operation took place in Dayton, approximately 20 miles away from the crime scene.
According to ICE, the Salvadoran individual initially entered the United States illegally over 15 years ago. He was subsequently deported to El Salvador multiple times, specifically in September 2009, August 2014, July 2016, March 2019, and March 2023. Additionally, Perez-Miranda has been convicted of various crimes, including drug trafficking, drug possession, and two counts of illegal entry while he was unlawfully present in the U.S.
The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office, which is currently holding the suspect, has not provided a clear confirmation regarding Perez-Miranda’s affiliation with MS-13. Although ICE mentioned that he is a known member of the gang, further information is yet to be obtained. Newsweek has reached out to the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office for additional comments on this matter.
The U.S. Department of Justice recently declared MS-13 and seven other groups as FTOs, which means they will now face stricter penalties. This designation allows law enforcement agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, to collaborate with local authorities in investigating potential gang members.
What People Are Saying
According to a news release, Director Bret Bradford of the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston Field Office expressed his admiration for his agents. He commended their dedication and sacrifice in carrying out their mission at the highest level. Thanks to their efforts, a dangerous MS-13 gang member, who was accused of brutally killing an innocent man earlier that day, has been apprehended. This arrest has effectively prevented the individual from potentially posing a threat to the Houston community.
ICE Homeland Security Investigations Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz stated in a news release that the arrest of this dangerous transnational gang member brings relief to the residents of Southeast Texas. He emphasized the importance of the close relationships between federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, which enabled them to swiftly apprehend the suspect within a few hours, preventing any further harm to the community.
In a statement on February 20, Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed his intent to designate cartels and transnational organizations as terrorists. He emphasized that this action is aimed at safeguarding the United States, the American people, and the entire hemisphere from the campaigns of violence and terror carried out by these ruthless groups. Rubio believes that these designations will equip law enforcement with additional tools to effectively counter these organizations both domestically and internationally.
What’s Next
The suspect, Perez-Miranda, is currently being held on a bond of $5 million. Unfortunately, the court has not yet scheduled a date for his hearing at the time of this publication.
