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Customs and Border Protection in the United States apprehended an alleged member of the Tren de Aragua gang during a traffic stop near Detroit on Wednesday.
The traffic stop in Shelby Township by Maryville Station CBP officers was initiated due to a fake license plate on a vehicle. CBP stated that the three individuals inside the car were all in the United States illegally, and one of them is Manuel Zavala-Lopez, a Venezuelan national and alleged member of the Tren de Aragua gang who entered the country in May 2023 during the Biden administration and was subsequently released, as reported by DHS.
The group was classified as a foreign terrorist organization early in President Donald Trump’s second term, alongside MS-13. Some of the purported members have been transferred to the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador for detention.
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“Zavala-Lopez is a repeat offender who has traveled across the U.S. committing violent crimes. He is currently wanted for failure to appear on a felony assault charge in Denver, Colorado. Additionally, he faces charges of robbery resulting in physical injury, criminal possession of a weapon with intent to use, assault, possession of stolen property, and petty larceny in New York,” stated DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
“Thanks to the courageous efforts of law enforcement, he is no longer a threat to American citizens. He will be held in ICE custody pending removal.”
Alleged Tren de Aragua member Manuel Zavala-Lopez was arrested by Customs and Border Protection on July 23, 2025, near Detroit. (Mike Kline (notkalvin) via Getty Images; U.S. Customs and Border Protection)
“The apprehension of this Tren de Aragua gang member, who has a history of firearms and other criminal charges and is wanted on an active warrant from Denver, Colorado, for failure to appear, eliminates another dangerous criminal illegal immigrant from our country and enhances public safety,” remarked Detroit Sector Chief Patrol Agent John R. Morris.
“This is the second arrest of a gang member from a foreign terrorist organization this month, highlighting the tireless efforts of our agents and law enforcement partners. These cases underscore the crucial importance of interagency cooperation in removing these criminal threats from our communities,” Morris added.
The 30-year-old individual, whose name was not disclosed but whose mugshot was released by the agency, has previously faced charges related to violent robbery, weapons violations, and immigration violations, according to a news release.
“This Tren de Aragua gang member, who should not have been in our country, let alone wandering the streets of Shelby Township, demonstrates our department’s dedication to maintaining community safety and expelling dangerous individuals like this from our community,” stated Lt. Mark Benedettini of the Shelby Township Police Department in an email to Fox News Digital.
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Seventeen members of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang and members of the MS-13 gang were deported to El Salvador by the U.S. in San Salvador, El Salvador, on March 31, 2025. (El Salvador Press Presidency Office/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Traffic stops play a significant role in border and immigration enforcement, often resulting in the apprehension of individuals and drugs.
Earlier this month, CBP announced the arrest of two Salvadoran nationals in the country illegally in Detroit.
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Border Patrol agents intervened following a request for assistance during an “altercation” at a motel in Sterling Heights.
One of the men admitted to being a member of MS-13 and disclosed that he had previously served a 20-year sentence in the Central American country for the murder of a rival gang member.
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Salvadoran police officers escort alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua recently deported by the U.S. government to be imprisoned in the Terrorism Confinement Center prison in Tecoluca, El Salvador, in an image obtained on March 16, 2025. (Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia/Handout via Reuters)
“This is a significant victory for the U.S. Border Patrol and the safety of our communities,” stated Detroit Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Javier Geronimo Jr. at the time.
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“This arrest exemplifies how agents and our law enforcement partners are safeguarding our towns by removing violent criminals from our country.”
