DHS says it arrested 7K gang members during first year of second Trump admin

The Department of Homeland Security announced Tuesday it has arrested 7,000 gang members during the first year of President Donald Trump's second administration. 

The announcement was made on the one-year anniversary of Trump's second term, which has already seen historic achievements, including aggressive deportation operations and ending Temporary Protected Status for several countries. 

The department said the gang members, who were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, committed a range of serious crimes including murder, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and carjacking.

“In President Trump’s first year in office, ICE arrested 7,000 gang members,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said. “When we say we are targeting the worst of the worst, this is exactly what we mean. Many of these were let in by Joe Biden and should have never been in this country. 

"These vicious criminals murdered, assaulted, robbed, and terrorized innocent Americans for sport," she continued. "But under President Trump’s and DHS Secretary [Kristi] Noem’s leadership, ICE is turbocharged to arrest even more gang members and make America safe again.”

The arrests include people who were allegedly members of Tren de Aragua, Latin Kings, Nortenos, Trinitarios and the Mexican Mafia gangs. 

"President Trump’s administration is breaking violent gang networks and cartels in America at a record clip," FBI Director Kash Patel said in a social media post Wednesday. "[In] 2025 the FBI saw a 210% increase in gang takedowns from the year prior. That’s MS-13, TdA, and more. 

"With great partners ... we’ve set up Task Forces all across the country to work with locals taking violent criminals off the street," he continued. "America is safer every single day as a result - 20% decline in the national murder rate and more."

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.