<p>The Trump administration’s decision to return a high-profile gang boss facing terrorism charges to El Salvador as part of a controversial effort to deport hundreds of Venezuelan citizens could signal the US government’s willingness to compromise its longstanding MS13 crackdown in favor of mass deportation.</p><p>César Humberto López Larios, alias “Greñas,” a veteran leader of the MS13 street gang, was flown to El Salvador on March 15 alongside other suspected Salvadoran gang members and more than 200 Venezuelans accused by US officials of belonging to the Tren de Aragua gang.</p><p>López Larios was among a group of 14 members of the MS13’s historic leadership ring charged with terrorism in a landmark case initiated during Trump’s first administration. At the time, authorities called it the “highest-reaching and most sweeping indictment” to ever target the gang.</p><p><a href="https://insightcrime.org/news/us-deportations-compromise-trump-ms13-crackdown/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Could US Deportations Compromise Trump Administration’s MS13 Crackdown?</a> | Written and narrated by Alex Papadovassilakis.</p><p>Visit <a href="https://insightcrime.org" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠insightcrime.org</a>⁠ for more information.</p>

Audio | InSight Crime

InSight Crime

Could US Deportations Compromise Trump Administration’s MS13 Crackdown?

APR 1, 20257 MIN
Audio | InSight Crime

Could US Deportations Compromise Trump Administration’s MS13 Crackdown?

APR 1, 20257 MIN

Description

<p>The Trump administration’s decision to return a high-profile gang boss facing terrorism charges to El Salvador as part of a controversial effort to deport hundreds of Venezuelan citizens could signal the US government’s willingness to compromise its longstanding MS13 crackdown in favor of mass deportation.</p><p>César Humberto López Larios, alias “Greñas,” a veteran leader of the MS13 street gang, was flown to El Salvador on March 15 alongside other suspected Salvadoran gang members and more than 200 Venezuelans accused by US officials of belonging to the Tren de Aragua gang.</p><p>López Larios was among a group of 14 members of the MS13’s historic leadership ring charged with terrorism in a landmark case initiated during Trump’s first administration. At the time, authorities called it the “highest-reaching and most sweeping indictment” to ever target the gang.</p><p><a href="https://insightcrime.org/news/us-deportations-compromise-trump-ms13-crackdown/" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Could US Deportations Compromise Trump Administration’s MS13 Crackdown?</a> | Written and narrated by Alex Papadovassilakis.</p><p>Visit <a href="https://insightcrime.org" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">⁠insightcrime.org</a>⁠ for more information.</p>