The removal of a dangerous MS-13 gang leader from our country is a moment to reflect—not only on justice served, but also on the greater fight to protect our people, our families, and our American way of life.
Wilmer Alexi Garcia-Manzanarez, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador and a known leader in the violent MS-13 gang, was finally deported from the United States after years of criminal activity and defiance of our laws. He should never have been here in the first place, and yet he kept coming back. Despite being ordered to leave the country in 2002, he returned illegally multiple times after being deported. Between 2007 and 2012 alone, he was deported three times—each time managing to sneak back in, putting our communities at risk again and again.
This man wasn’t just another lawbreaker. He was wanted for homicide and had ties to terrorism. He committed crimes on American soil too—burglary, intimidation with a weapon, drunk driving, and more. Thanks to the brave men and women of ICE’s Boston field office, Garcia-Manzanarez was finally removed from our land on November 3rd and handed over to authorities in El Salvador. Now, the people of Massachusetts—and the rest of the country—can breathe just a little easier.
But we must ask ourselves: how did it ever come to this?
For years, our borders were left wide open. Under the failed leadership of President Biden and his radical allies, criminals like Garcia-Manzanarez were allowed to repeatedly enter our country, even after being caught and deported. Our law enforcement was handcuffed by weak policies and political agendas that put the rights of criminals above the safety of American citizens.
Now, under President Trump’s renewed leadership, we are reclaiming control. We are putting Americans first again. ICE is doing the job it was created to do—protecting us from those who come here to harm, not help.
Yet, the threat is not over.
Just days ago, two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot near the White House. One of them, Sarah Beckstrom, has died. The suspected shooter? A 29-year-old Afghan man named Rahmanullah Lakanwal, who entered our country in 2021 under Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome. Lakanwal had worked with U.S. agencies overseas, including the CIA, and yet still committed a brutal act of violence on American soil.
This tragedy is another painful reminder that we must always be vigilant. It is not enough to hope people will do the right thing. We must know who we are letting into our country. We must reexamine every single person who entered during the Biden years. If they do not love America, if they do not respect our laws, they should not be here.
President Trump has made it clear: “We’re not going to put up with these kinds of assaults on law and order by people who shouldn’t even be in our country.” He’s absolutely right. America is a nation of laws, not lawlessness. We cannot allow foreign criminals, gang members, or terrorists to make their home among us.
Meanwhile, our law enforcement officers are under attack. The Department of Homeland Security reports a shocking rise in violence against ICE and Border Patrol agents. From January to November of this year, there were 238 assaults on ICE officers—a 1,153 percent increase from last year. These brave men and women have been attacked with rocks, Molotov cocktails, vehicles, and even bullets.
And yet, sanctuary city politicians continue to spread dangerous rhetoric. They side with criminals instead of cops. They put political correctness above public safety.
It is time to return to basic truths. We must secure our borders. We must support law enforcement. We must stand up for the safety of our families and communities. And we must never forget that America is worth defending.
The removal of Garcia-Manzanarez is a step in the right direction. But it is only one step. We must keep moving forward—strong, united, and unafraid to do what is right. Let us restore order, protect the innocent, and preserve the nation we love.
