U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested two alleged leaders of the violent MS-13 gang during a raid in Omaha, Nebraska, on 9 July 2025. The primary target, Melvin Alejandro Varela Pérez—known as “Payaso” and listed among El Salvador’s Top 100 Most Wanted fugitives—is wanted in his home country on five counts of aggravated homicide, attempted homicide and other terrorism-related charges. Agents also detained Rene Escobar-Ochoa, who is the subject of an INTERPOL Red Notice for drug trafficking, kidnapping and conspiracy to commit murder. Both men, Salvadoran nationals who entered the United States illegally, were previously detained at the southern border and paroled into the country in 2023. They are now in ICE custody while the Department of Homeland Security coordinates their removal to El Salvador. DHS officials said the case underscores shortcomings in past vetting procedures and vowed to accelerate removals of high-risk foreign nationals. The Omaha operation is part of a broader nationwide crackdown on transnational gangs. According to DHS, ICE has detained 2,288 gang members—including affiliates of MS-13, Tren de Aragua and 18th Street—during the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s second term, and 70 percent of those arrested have prior convictions or pending criminal charges. Administration officials said additional targeted enforcement actions are planned in the coming weeks.