Federal Authorities Apprehend Self-Confessed MS-13 Member Linked to Multiple Homicides
U.S. federal agents from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have arrested Edwin Antonio Hernandez-Hernandez, a Salvadoran national accused of serious violent crimes. Following the apprehension, authorities reported that Hernandez-Hernandez confessed to active membership in the transnational gang MS-13 and admitted to committing five murders in his home country of El Salvador.
The arrest underscores ongoing collaborative efforts between USCIS and ICE to identify and detain foreign nationals with criminal backgrounds present in the United States. MS-13, also known as Mara Salvatrucha, is an international criminal organization that originated in Los Angeles and Central America. The group is frequently cited by law enforcement for its involvement in drug trafficking, human smuggling, and acts of extreme violence.
While officials have characterized the arrest as a significant victory for public safety and inter-agency cooperation, the case will now proceed through the federal immigration court system. Despite the reported confession regarding crimes committed abroad, individuals detained by immigration authorities are entitled to due process under U.S. law regarding their removal proceedings. Legal experts note that while verified membership in a violent organization or admissions to serious felonies typically serve as grounds for deportation and disqualification from asylum relief, the formal adjudication process must occur before extradition or removal to El Salvador can take place.
