Ben Bergquam, host of Law and Border on Real America’s Voice, took viewers inside an intense ICE operation targeting MS-13 criminals in Baltimore, Maryland. Embedded with ICE Baltimore Field Office Director Matthew Elliston, the FBI’s Special Agent in Charge, Bill DelBagno, and the ATF, Bergquam documented the crackdown on violent gang members operating in suburban neighborhoods.
“We’re legitimately defending America against foreign-born terrorists,” Elliston said as he and his team tracked down MS-13 fugitives. “Today’s operation is a crippling blow to their criminal network.”
The operation involved six different teams searching for 13 MS-13 members—violent criminals tied to drug trafficking, human smuggling, and murder.
Sanctuary Policies Fuel Crime
Bergquam pressed Elliston on the impact of sanctuary jurisdictions, and his response was blunt. “Prince George’s County arrested an MS-13 member last Saturday with a firearm and enough narcotics for sale—and then released him back onto the streets,” he revealed.
“This is not a guy who’s going to teach Sunday school,” Elliston added. “He’s out there poisoning our streets with fentanyl and killing people. Sanctuary policies are creating more victims, and ICE’s number one goal is to stop that.”
According to Elliston, Maryland has made progress, with several counties reversing sanctuary policies. Baltimore City had been working with ICE, but after a recent change in leadership, Prince George’s County took a step backward. “That was heartbreaking to see,” he admitted.
Meanwhile, Montgomery County serves as a success story. “They reversed their sanctuary policy, and violent crime dropped 50%. That’s the biggest drop for a large county in the entire country,” Elliston emphasized. “Not releasing gang members and sex offenders makes all the difference.”
MS-13: A Global Terrorist Threat
ICE agents successfully apprehended one of the East Coast’s most notorious MS-13 leaders during the operation. “This guy is what we call a shot-caller—a click leader. He’s a person of interest in multiple homicides,” Elliston revealed. “He’s been on the run, but my officers are the best in the business at finding people who don’t want to be found.”
Elliston underscored the global reach of MS-13. “People don’t realize MS-13 is an international terrorist organization. They’re in Central America, South America, Europe, Canada—it’s a virus spreading through society. ICE is the cure.”
Morale is High as ICE Ramps Up Enforcement
Under President Trump’s renewed focus on immigration enforcement, ICE morale has skyrocketed. “The tempo and attitude have changed. Officers are finally getting the recognition they deserve,” Elliston said. “Every day, we’re out here taking down the worst of the worst.”
In one dramatic moment, Bergquam and ICE agents approached a suspected MS-13 hideout. “We spoke to the homeowner—she told us she was renting out rooms,” Elliston recounted. “We knocked, and as soon as the target saw us, he demanded a warrant. Too late. He was under arrest.”
As ICE agents left, the homeowner thanked them. “She told us, ‘Thank you for getting him out. I don’t want bad people in my house.’”
Bergquam closed the segment with a final message from a man who was passing by and saw the media team and the ICE presence, who delivered a message to the team: “We’re veterans, and we’re with you 100%. If you need help, you let us know.”
As news broke that the morning’s MS-13 suspect was also wanted for murder, Bergquam told his audience at the end. “These scumbags are the same people protected by sanctuary policies. They burn the American flag and wave their own. Thank God for President Trump, Tom Homan, and the ICE agents who actually put American neighborhoods first.”
WATCH:
EXCLUSIVE: Baltimore ICE Operations target MS-13 terrorists in suburban neighborhoods.
— Ben Bergquam – Real America’s Voice (RAV-TV) News (@BenBergquam) February 8, 2025
Embedded with Baltimore ICE Field Office Director, Matthew Elliston and his team along with the Baltimore FBI office, Special Agent in Charge, Bill DelBagno, and the ATF.
Must see and… pic.twitter.com/OZ9dCZennf