54 violent transnational gang members, affiliates arrested in NYC in Operation Salvo: DHS

In a press conference on Thursday morning, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that since Operation Salvo began in New York City, authorities have arrested 54 people who are "violent transnational gang members and affiliates associated with Trinitarios."

She noted that the operation was launched after an off-duty US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agent and his friend were attacked in a park in the city. "These two criminals came and attempted to rob them, and it ended up where they bravely fought back. This officer defended himself and his friend, but not before being shot in the face and in the arm by one of these criminals."

She criticized the Biden administration for letting these two people into the country, saying that "those individuals have been brought to justice, but those individuals would have never been in this country if they hadn’t been allowed in by the Biden administration, when they ignored our federal laws and allowed them to come in illegally." She said the two attackers "had long criminal rap sheets and were released by the Biden administration and continued to be released by leaders in this city to perpetuate crimes against the citizens that live here."

She said that the officer who was injured "doesn’t seek public attention. He wishes to remain anonymous, but he had a distinguished career and a legacy of service, and continues to do so, but his life was forever altered by this heinous crime."

During the investigation, she said, it was revealed that the two criminals were affiliated with the "notorious Trinitarios terrorist gang," and "we began to target every single last person that is affiliated with them and recognized that they needed to be brought to justice. The American people deserve dignity, they deserve justice, and we deliver both."

In response, Operation Salvo was launched in coordination between federal agencies, federal prosecutors, and the New York County District Attorney’s Office. "We've arrested 54 individuals as a part of Operation Salvo since its inception just a few months ago. Those arrested are violent transnational gang members and affiliates associated with Trinitarios who are responsible for weapons trafficking, for human smuggling, for narcotics distribution, and for armed robberies. They had perpetuated previous violent attacks across the city of New York City."

She said that many have been removed from the country, and "over 60 percent of them have been returned back to their home countries to face justice for their crimes there as well."

"These removals represent a significant blow to the criminal network that has been terrorizing communities right here in New York City and throughout the United States, and that’s our message to this administration, to the city, to the state, and to the United States, is that President Trump and his law enforcement officers that are entrusted to protect the American people will, every day, continue to keep America safe."

She said the administration is using "every single tool that we have to protest the American people," adding that sanctuary policies, "whether they're here in New York City, whether they're in California, Illinois or Minneapolis, if you are a criminal illegal alien, we are coming to get you. We will arrest you, we will bring justice, and we will also bring safety to the American people. We are warning anyone, if you think you can harm an individual, a citizen of the United States, or a law enforcement officer, we will find you and bring you to justice."