Justin Diep – Omaha World-Herald – Wed. July 9, 2025 – Lincoln Journal Star

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said that agents arrested an “MS-13 kingpin” Wednesday in North Omaha. 

ICE said in a press release that the agency arrested a high-ranking member of the MS-13 gang who is among El Salvador’s top 100 most-wanted fugitives. 

An ICE spokesperson told the World-Herald that the agency was not releasing the suspect’s name because the arrest was part of an ongoing investigation. 

ICE said the suspect is wanted in El Salvador for aggravated homicide of five victims, attempted aggravated homicide, deprivation of liberty, and terrorist organization affiliation. 

ICE also arrested 30-year-old Rene Saul Escobar Ochoa, who ICE said is a known associate the man was living with, who is wanted in El Salvador for giving orders to fellow gang members to commit a variety of crimes, including multiple homicides, extortion, imprisonment and drug trafficking.

The ICE press release said that both were in the country illegally and were arrested Wednesday without incident. ICE provided video of both arrests to Fox News.

“These illegal aliens didn’t just sneak into our country; they brought with them a legacy of violence, terror and death,” said Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City Special Agent Mark Zito, whose office oversees Omaha. “They thought they could hide in America’s heartland, but they were sadly mistaken. Not on our watch.”

Nebraska Sens. Pete Ricketts and Deb Fischer praised ICE in separate press releases. 

“Incredible work by ICE arresting an MS-13 gang member in Omaha today,” Ricketts said. “Biden’s Border Crisis continues to leave Americans vulnerable to crime and criminals. That is a fact.”

Homeland Security Investigations, ICE’s Enforcement Removal Operations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are conducting the investigation.