DHS preps deportation of alleged MS-13 gang member wanted for pastor's murder in El Salvador

FIRST ON FOX: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has started the deportation process for an alleged MS-13 gang member from El Salvador who had been released into the United States a decade ago and was considered a "non-criminal" alien despite being wanted for a pastor's murder in his home country.

Danny Granados-Garcia was arrested by the FBI last month, and Fox News Digital has learned that he is now in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody facing imminent removal.

"Thanks to ICE, this MS-13 gang member wanted for murdering a pastor in his home country is off Connecticut streets," Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis told Fox News Digital. "This is an example of an arrest the media counts as a 'non-criminal' because he lacks a rap sheet in the United States."

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"This is an insane categorization and just one example of the countless 'non-criminals' who are public safety threats that ICE is removing from our communities every single day," Bis added. "70% of ICE arrests are of illegal aliens convicted or charged with a crime in the U.S."

DHS says Granados-Garcia was released by the Obama administration in 2016 near the Rio Grande Valley, Texas Border Patrol Sector. The Salvadorian national attempted to enter the U.S. claiming he was an unaccompanied minor, despite being over the age of qualification for such status. 

ICE officers apprehended Granados-Garcia as part of a focused enforcement operation with multiple agencies conducted in Waterbury, Connecticut, on March 10.

"Danny Antonio Granados-Garcia, a Salvadoran national, was in the U.S. with an active El Salvadorian arrest warrant for aggravated homicide - wanted for the alleged murder of a pastor," FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X following the arrest.

DHS told Fox News Digital that the Salvadorian will remain in ICE custody until he is deported.

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Despite setbacks from the partial government shutdown and shakeups at DHS which led to the appointment of Secretary Markwayne Mullin, the department has continued its commitment to President Donald Trump's campaign promise to deport criminal illegal migrants.

Earlier this week, Bis told Fox News Digital that DHS "will continue arresting public safety threats from our communities and will not allow the Democrats to slow us down from making America safe again."

The partial government shutdown continues, but a bipartisan deal appears close as both the House and Senate look to end what has been a near-50 day battle and the longest partial shutdown in U.S. history.

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The lack of funding for the department has impacted agencies that operate under DHS, including FEMA, TSA and the Coast Guard.

This week, FEMA told Fox News Digital that disaster relief funds are "running dangerously low," and until Trump's executive order to pay TSA agents, airport security lines faced hourslong wait times with unpaid officers calling out of work.

ICE and immigration agent operations, for the most part, were funded under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was signed into law by Trump last July.

Debate over funding DHS is mainly centered around ICE operations, with congressional Democrats hesitant to agree to a spending bill without reforms for the agency, like federal agents having to show ID, obtain warrants and remove face coverings.