U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), arrested a Guatemalan national with a history of gang activity and felony convictions in Apache Junction, Arizona, on February 24th.
38-year-old Hugo Leonel Soto-Moran is an illegally present Guatemalan alien and a validated member of the Latin King gang. He has prior federal convictions for possession of an unregistered firearm and racketeering, both stemming from criminal cases in Maryland.
READ: Illinois Rep. Jesús Garcia Slams ICE For Arresting Twice-Deported Violent Gang Member At A School
“As a documented member of a violent street gang and an alien convicted of serious crimes, Soto-Moran demonstrated a blatant disregard for U.S. immigration laws and presented a significant danger to the residents of Arizona,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Phoenix Field Office Director John Cantu.
Soto-Moran illegally entered the United States at an unknown date and location. He will remain in ICE custody pending his removal from the country.
READ: “We Hunted His Ass Down”: Pasco Sheriff Arrests Illegal Alien In Child Sex Case
This arrest highlights the ongoing efforts of ICE to prioritize the apprehension of individuals who pose a threat to public safety, particularly those with criminal histories and ties to violent gangs.
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