As we’ve been reporting, President Donald Trump, new Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and border czar Tom Homan have unleashed the forces of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, and agents have been busy rounding up illegal aliens—including many hardened criminals—and repatriating them to their home countries.

Although the left is crying over the lawful treatment of our “friends and neighbors,” many of the folks they’ve nabbed are the last people you’d want living next door to you. Among those captured was a vicious ringleader of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua, which has spread to at least 16 states and whose members recently made the lives of residents in Aurora, Colorado a living hell under the reign of terror. 

The suspect’s name is Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco, and he’s a real sweetheart.

🚨Tren de Aragua ringleader Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco, 25, arrested in NYC during a pre-dawn ICE raid.

This violent criminal, wanted for a kidnapping tied to the Aurora, CO break-in, was hiding across from an elementary school.

Trump’s crackdown is cleaning up the streets!… pic.twitter.com/psLyOkk82O

— Unknown Ruler (@unknownruler8) January 28, 2025

More--> WINNING: Ringleader of Aurora, Colorado Apartment Building Takeovers Nabbed in New York

New DHS Head Noem Hits the Ground Running, Joins ICE Raid in 'Sanctuary' NYC to Nab 'Dirtbags'

But now, as Noem told interviewers Wednesday, the news gets even more sinister as it turns out Pacheco had recently been in the market for... grenades. What the heck could he want those for? Mayhem, of course, but what type specifically?

Noem gives the details:

Noem had joined federal immigration authorities Tuesday in New York City for the sweeps, which officials said were targeting violent criminals in major cities and elsewhere.

On Wednesday, Noem addressed the arrest of who she described as a "ringleader" of the Tren de Aragua gang during an appearance on "Fox & Friends."

"He had just been a part of a gun weapons exchange and was trying to buy grenades," Noem said. "Why would anybody in this country need to buy a grenade and go out and perpetuate violence?"

Why indeed?

Noem argued that despite all the whining from the left, people who actually have to live in the midst of this type of terror are thrilled that the new administration is getting these guys off the streets:

"What was amazing is you'll hear people and Democrat leaders in different cities, like New York City, some of their city council members have tried to attack what we're doing as far as enforcing our laws," she said. "But the people on the streets are not with them." 

"It was amazing to hear people and see them as they walked by taking their kids to school, going to work, just walk by us and quietly say thank you, thank you for being here," Noem continued. "And that means a world to those officers that are out there risking their lives to bring safety back."

Noem also announced that she was rescinding a last-minute order by former DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas extending Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelan "refugees" for some 600,000 Venezuelan "refugees."

Watch:

Nobody said turning this country after four years of the Biden malfeasance administration was going to be easy. It’s stunning, however, just how quickly the new team is making a difference in making America safer.

Even Democrat Rep. Ritchie-Torres (NY) knows we need change:

In my Congressional District in the Bronx, ICE detained Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco, a violent gang leader wanted for kidnapping. I strongly favor surgically removing violent criminals, especially gang leaders, from the Bronx.

If you are among the activists who want to open your… pic.twitter.com/QNT3RwKmTw

— Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) January 29, 2025