The Department of Justice filed a motion this week to dismiss charges against a Salvadoran man previously accused of being a leader in the notorious MS-13 gang.
On Wednesday, attorneys for Attorney General Pam Bondi’s DOJ requested that a federal court drop the case against Henry Villatoro Santos.
His arrest in Woodbridge, Virginia, had been widely celebrated by top administration officials, with several taking to social media to mark it as a major victory.
In March, federal agents apprehended the 24-year-old in Northern Virginia, identifying him as a high-ranking member of the violent Mara Salvatrucha gang, commonly known as MS-13.
At the time, former President Donald Trump shared the news on Truth Social, posting, “Just captured a major leader of MS13. Tom HOMAN is a superstar.”
The multi-agency operation involved the FBI, Prince William County Police, ATF, ICE, and the Virginia State Police. Santos was initially arrested on an outstanding immigration warrant and was later charged with illegal firearm possession.
The one-page filing did not explain the DOJ’s decision to drop the charges. However, sources close to the matter believe the move is part of a broader strategy to accelerate Santos’ deportation.
The DOJ recently used a similar approach in the case of Cesar Lopez-Larios, another alleged MS-13 leader, whose charges were also dropped to facilitate removal to El Salvador.
Santos’ attorney, Muhammad Elsayed, opposed the motion, arguing that it was intended to transfer his client into ICE custody, potentially resulting in an unlawful deportation.
“There’s a significant risk that Mr. Villatoro Santos could be deported without due process and sent to El Salvador, where he would likely face immediate detention in one of the world’s harshest prisons without any ability to challenge his removal,” Elsayed stated.
Following Santos’ arrest, Attorney General Bondi had made it clear that the administration planned to deport him quickly. “He is an illegal alien from El Salvador,” she said. “And he will not be living in this country much longer.”