Thread: ICE arrests MS-13 member in Florida during joint operation

ICE arrests MS-13 member in Florida during joint operation

Coordinated arrest: ICE, CBP, Florida Highway Patrol, and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office worked together to arrest Luis Merary Peralta-Sevilla on April 14.
Gang affiliation: Authorities confirmed Peralta-Sevilla is an MS-13 member, a group designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
Pending removal: Peralta-Sevilla remains in custody awaiting transfer to ICE for removal proceedings set for April 2027.

ICE confirms arrest of MS-13 member in Florida

Federal authorities announced the April 14 arrest of Luis Merary Peralta-Sevilla, a Honduran national and confirmed MS-13 gang member, in Palm Beach County, Florida. ICE Director Todd M. Lyons emphasized that Peralta-Sevilla is a member of a designated foreign terrorist organization and will remain in custody pending removal proceedings. The arrest underscores ICE’s ongoing focus on targeting individuals deemed threats to public safety. ice.gov + 2

Inside the April 14 multi-agency operation

The arrest was part of a coordinated effort involving ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol. Authorities conducted a targeted vehicle stop, during which Peralta-Sevilla was taken into custody without incident. His truck was seized for driving without a valid license, and minor narcotics were reportedly found. ice.gov + 2

Peralta-Sevilla’s immigration and gang history

Peralta-Sevilla first entered the U.S. illegally in July 2013, when Border Patrol agents encountered him in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley. He admitted to being in the country unlawfully and was released on bond while awaiting immigration proceedings. His next court date was scheduled for April 2027, but his confirmed MS-13 affiliation has placed him under heightened scrutiny. KRXI Fox 11 + 2

Why the public disclosure matters

The high-profile nature of this arrest contrasts with broader ICE enforcement patterns revealed in Washington state, where most detainees lack serious criminal histories or gang ties. Data shows ICE often targets individuals through traffic stops or public records rather than high-risk raids, raising debates about prioritization and civil liberties. The Florida case highlights ICE’s capacity for coordinated action against confirmed gang members, while also feeding into national discussions on enforcement scope and transparency. Tri-City Herald + 2

State/Region	Typical Detainee Profile	Arrest Method	Criminal/Gang Affiliation	Time in U.S.
Florida (Palm Beach County)	Confirmed MS-13 gang member	Coordinated traffic stop with multiple agencies	MS-13 member, designated foreign terrorist organization	Entered illegally in 2013
Washington (Tri-Cities area)	Mostly Latino immigrants, many agricultural workers	Traffic stops, public records, detainer requests	None reported gang affiliation	Many in U.S. for over 10 years, some since 1990
Washington (Statewide general)	Immigrants with minor or nonviolent offenses	Routine enforcement, jail custody requests	No gang affiliation	Varied, often long-term residents

ice.gov+ 3

4 references

ICE arrests MS-13 member in Florida during joint operation

Video shows ICE officers arresting alleged MS-13 gang member, a 'known suspected terrorist' in Florida

Authorities also found narcotics in the vehicle driven by Luis Merary Peralta-Sevilla, a Honduran national

By Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Danamarie McNicholl Fox News
Published May 8, 2026 8:22pm EDT

ICE nabs known MS-13 member in Florida

On April 14, ICE conducted an operation resulting in the arrest of Luis Merary Peralta-Sevilla, a criminal migrant and MS-13 gang member from Honduras. (ICE)

State and federal immigration officers arrested a criminal illegal alien and MS-13 gang member in a takedown captured on camera.
Luis Merary Peralta-Sevilla, a criminal illegal alien and MS-13 gang member from Honduras, was arrested during an operation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Highway Patrol on April 14.
In a video shared exclusively with Fox News by ICE, officers apprehend and arrest the Honduran national.

"Driver, hands out the window, now!" a yells as a translator repeats the commands in Spanish.



Luis Merary Peralta-Sevilla is in the Palm Beach County Jail pending transfer to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody for removal proceedings. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)


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After Peralta was in handcuffs, officers circled the truck he was driving. Authorities said they found "some minor narcotics."
Florida police, ICE said, also seized Peralta's vehicle due to violations related to driving without a valid license.



On April 14, ICE conducted an operation resulting in the arrest of Luis Merary Peralta-Sevilla, a criminal migrant and MS-13 gang member from Honduras. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement )

Peralta-Sevilla first illegally entered the United States in July 2013, officials said. U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered him in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas, where he admitted he was a citizen and national of Honduras and acknowledged he was in the country illegally. A Justice Department immigration judge granted him bond, and he remained in the United States pending removal proceedings.

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According to ICE, Luis Merary Peralta-Sevilla is a Honduran national and MS-13 gang member. He allegedly entered the United States illegally in 2013. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement )

He is in the Palm Beach County Jail pending transfer to ICE custody for removal proceedings.

"What happened today is just another perfect display of our partnership with our local law enforcement, the Florida Highway Patrol and other federal partners," an ICE deputy said in the video.
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"We got a lead on this individual here, Honduran national. He's associated with the MS-13 transnational gang, is also a known suspected terrorist," he said.
"He's gonna be going over to the Palm Beach County Jail tonight, and we'll be moving him over to ICE custody shortly and also following up on the criminal investigation we have going on this individual."

ICE arrests alleged MS-13 gang member in Palm Beach County on camera | Fox News