US Justice Department drops charge against alleged MS-13 leader

ISTANBUL

The US Justice Department has decided to dismiss a federal charge against a man once described as a major leader of the MS-13 gang, raising concerns about potential deportation without due process, CNN reported Wednesday.

Henrry Villatoro Santos, previously identified by Attorney General Pam Bondi as MS-13’s “leader for the East Coast,” was arrested in March on a federal firearms charge. At the time, Bondi described him as one of the “worst of the worst” criminals and praised his capture as a key success in the administration’s immigration crackdown.

But in a filing submitted Wednesday, prosecutors asked a federal court in Virginia to drop the case, stating, according to CNN: “The government no longer wishes to pursue the instant prosecution at this time.”

Villatoro Santos’ attorney, Muhammad Elsayed, urged the court to delay the dismissal, arguing that his client would immediately be transferred to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody and subsequently deported to El Salvador.

He warned that Villatoro Santos could face detention under inhumane conditions, noting that deportees are often held without the opportunity to challenge their removal.

The case comes as the Trump administration ramps up efforts to deport undocumented immigrants allegedly linked to gang activity. Critics say people are being deported without due process, including some proven not to have any gang links or criminal offenses.

In March, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, saying it gave him sweeping authority to expel individuals during wartime or when facing hostile threats. The move has led to the removal of more than 200 Venezuelan nationals, according to court filings, some of whom were sent to prisons in El Salvador.