MS-13 Gang Member Living Illegally in Florida Nabbed by ICE in Palm Beach County

Luis Merary Peralta-Sevilla, a Honduran national and confirmed member of the violent MS-13 gang, was arrested on April 14 in Palm Beach County, Florida, according to a news release from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The arrest came during a coordinated operation involving ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, and the Florida Highway Patrol.

ICE Director Todd M. Lyons confirmed Peralta-Sevilla’s gang affiliation, labeling MS-13 as a designated foreign terrorist organization. Peralta-Sevilla is currently pending removal proceedings before a Department of Justice immigration judge and remains in custody at the Palm Beach County Jail awaiting transfer to ICE.

The arrest unfolded during a traffic stop where Peralta-Sevilla was found driving without a valid license, leading to the seizure of his truck. Video obtained by Fox News shows Peralta-Sevilla complying with officers as he was handcuffed.

Peralta-Sevilla first entered the United States illegally in July 2013, when he was encountered by Border Patrol agents in Texas' Rio Grande Valley. At that time, he admitted to his illegal status but was released on bond pending immigration court hearings. Shockingly, his next scheduled immigration hearing is not until April 2027, highlighting the glacial pace of immigration enforcement and court backlogs.

ICE emphasized that Peralta-Sevilla’s arrest is part of their ongoing efforts to detain criminal aliens and immigration violators who have no legal right to remain in the country. Yet, the fact that Peralta-Sevilla was free for years despite his criminal ties underscores systemic failures in immigration enforcement and judicial processing.

This case exposes the dangerous consequences of prolonged immigration court delays and the challenges of keeping public communities safe from known gang members. It also raises urgent questions about accountability and the effectiveness of current immigration policies.

As ICE continues daily enforcement operations nationwide, the public deserves transparency and swift action to prevent individuals with violent affiliations from slipping through the cracks. We will keep tracking these developments and demand answers from those responsible for protecting the integrity of our borders and communities.