Thursday, 2 April 2026

ICE Recaptures ‘The Witch’ — Notorious Machete-Wielding MS-13 Killer Wanted for Murder After Newsom’s Sanctuary Policies Set Him Free

 

Man with a bandage on his face stands in front of a detention facility door, wearing a blue shirt and looking directly at the camera.
DHS announced the arrest of David Antonio Aviles Perez/Image: DHS

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that a notorious MS-13 thug, David Antonio Aviles Perez, 35, was taken into custody in San Diego, California, last week.

Perez, also known as “the witch,” has been dodging an international warrant for aggravated murder in El Salvador.

In 2023, Perez was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly swinging a machete at a man in Monterey, California, but was released under California Governor Gavin Newsom’s soft-on-crime sanctuary policies.


DHS shared, “On March 26, ICE arrested David Antonio Aviles Perez, who has an international warrant for aggravated murder in El Salvador.”

“His criminal history also includes an arrest in 2023 in California for assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance, and petty theft. California’s sanctuary politicians RELEASED this gang member back into California neighborhoods.”

Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis added, “ICE arrested this dangerous criminal illegal alien and MS-13 gang member wanted in El Salvador for murder.”

“Gavin Newsom’s sanctuary policies allowed this gang member to be released from jail after his arrest for assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance, and petty theft. Releasing this gang member back into California neighborhoods put American lives at risk.”


“Thanks to President Trump and Secretary Mullin, this murderer is off our streets and will soon be out of our country.”

It is unknown when Perez entered the United States. The criminal gang member will remain in custody pending removal.

Per Fox News:

Aviles Perez is being held pending removal to El Salvador, a contrast to his Biden administration release as an illegal alien alleged to have threatened a California man with a machete in 2023.

The case has intensified criticism from federal officials of California’s sanctuary law under Newsom, which limits local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

******

El Salvador had sentenced Aviles Perez, known as “la bruja” (“the witch”), to 20 years in prison for a 2014 gang killing, according to the Salvadoran prosecution’s indictment from December, which reported he was alleged to have “shot the victim in the chest, back, and face” and was a known MS-13 gang member.

Post a Comment

Start typing and press Enter to search