In a surprising turn of events, a federal judge has permitted the Trump administration to abandon its criminal case against an alleged national leader of the notorious MS-13 gang. Instead, the administration plans to move forward with deporting him. However, the man’s lawyer has been granted time to contest this decision and prevent his immediate deportation.
The Legal Battle
During a recent hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick denied a request from Henrry Villatoro Santos’s attorney, Muhammad Elsayed, to compel the government to provide detailed plans for the Salvadoran man’s deportation. Elsayed also sought assurance that Villatoro Santos would not face swift expulsion under the rarely invoked Alien Enemies Act.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, present at the time of Villatoro Santos’s arrest, expressed the government’s intent to have him deported promptly. Following the arrest, Bondi, along with FBI Director Kash Patel and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, held a press conference where Villatoro Santos was labeled as one of the top three MS-13 leaders in the U.S., particularly on the East Coast. Despite accusations of overseeing violent crimes, no specific criminal record was disclosed.
Legal Proceedings
After the arrest, prosecutors brought forth a single felony charge against the 24-year-old Villatoro Santos for possessing firearms as a foreigner. An affidavit from an immigration agent revealed the discovery of four firearms, two silencers, and ammunition.
While Judge Fitzpatrick refrained from delving into the reasons behind the government’s decision to drop the criminal case, he acknowledged their prerogative to pursue deportation instead. Subsequently, he decided to keep the criminal case open for a brief period to allow Elsayed to file a separate suit preventing the Department of Homeland Security from deporting Villatoro Santos through unconventional means.
Conclusion
In light of these developments, it remains to be seen how the legal battle surrounding the MS-13 suspect’s deportation will unfold. The decision to prioritize deportation over criminal prosecution raises questions about the administration’s approach to tackling gang-related crimes and immigration issues.
