ICE Arrests Confirmed MS-13 Gang Member in Florida Amid Routine Enforcement Sweep

On April 14, ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations teamed up with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol to arrest Luis Merary Peralta-Sevilla, a Honduran national and confirmed member of the violent MS-13 gang. Peralta-Sevilla has been in the United States illegally since July 2013, when he was first encountered by Border Patrol agents in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley.

According to ICE Director Todd M. Lyons, Peralta-Sevilla was taken into custody without incident following a coordinated vehicle stop by the Florida Highway Patrol. Authorities seized his vehicle due to violations related to driving without a valid license. Peralta-Sevilla is currently detained at the Palm Beach County Jail awaiting transfer to ICE custody to continue removal proceedings.

Despite his criminal affiliation and illegal status, Peralta-Sevilla was granted bond by a Department of Justice immigration judge and remained free in the U.S. while awaiting removal hearings, which are not scheduled until April 2027. This case highlights the ongoing delays and gaps in immigration enforcement that allow dangerous individuals to remain at large.

ICE continues to conduct daily immigration enforcement operations nationwide, focusing on arresting criminal aliens and immigration violators without legal status. The agency encourages the public to report suspicious activity through their hotline or online tip form.

This arrest underscores the persistent threat posed by violent gang members living illegally in the U.S. and raises urgent questions about the effectiveness and timeliness of immigration courts and enforcement policies. We will keep tracking these cases as part of the broader pattern of immigration enforcement under the current administration.