ICE Targeted Operation in Dallas Leads to Arrest of Tren de Aragua and MS-13 Gang Members

Federal agents arrested three men in Dallas, including members of MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, during a high-impact operation targeting transnational gangs.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 25, 2026, 7:21 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Dallas Express

High-Impact Arrests in North Texas

A targeted enforcement operation conducted on March 18 and 19 has removed three identified criminals from the Dallas community. Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis announced the results of the mission on Tuesday, emphasizing the high-risk nature of the arrests. The operation specifically focused on individuals with documented ties to violent transnational gangs and organized theft syndicates who were present in the United States in violation of immigration law.

Tren de Aragua and MS-13 Members Detained

Among those taken into custody was Jhonny Colmenares-Sepulveda, a Venezuelan national identified as a member of the Tren de Aragua gang. Records indicate Colmenares-Sepulveda entered the country near Brownsville in August 2023. Also arrested was Fernando Avilez-Romero, an El Salvadoran national who admitted to membership in the MS-13 gang. Avilez-Romero’s criminal history in the U.S. includes prior convictions for possession of dangerous drugs and assault causing bodily injury. Despite previously holding a green card, his felony convictions triggered immediate removal proceedings.

Disruption of Vehicle Theft Ring

The third individual arrested, Fabian Rodriguez-Ortiz, is a Venezuelan national linked by investigators to a sophisticated vehicle theft ring operating within the Dallas metropolitan area. Rodriguez-Ortiz had been previously ordered removed from the United States by an immigration judge in November 2025. His arrest marks a significant step in disrupting local property crime syndicates that federal authorities claim are increasingly managed by foreign criminal elements.