FBI Arrests Alleged MS‑13 Member in Connecticut Wanted for El Salvador Pastor’s Killing
The FBI says agents in Waterbury, Connecticut, arrested Salvadoran national Danny Antonio Granados-Garcia on Tuesday, identifying him as a suspected MS-13 member wanted in El Salvador on an aggravated homicide warrant for the alleged murder of a pastor who was related to a Salvadoran police officer. FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrest on X, and the FBI’s New Haven field office said Granados-Garcia had been flagged as a fugitive through coordination with the FBI Legal Attaché in San Salvador and an Interpol Blue Notice. After his arrest, he was transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody to facilitate his return to El Salvador to face charges there. FBI officials framed the operation as part of a broader effort to track and remove MS-13 members who enter U.S. communities, emphasizing the gang’s reputation for brutality and intimidation. The case feeds into ongoing political and public-safety debates in the U.S. about how effectively federal authorities detect and expel foreign gang members wanted for serious crimes abroad.
📌 Key Facts
- Danny Antonio Granados-Garcia, a Salvadoran national and suspected MS-13 member, was arrested Tuesday in Waterbury, Connecticut by the FBI.
- El Salvador has an active aggravated homicide arrest warrant for Granados-Garcia in the alleged killing of a pastor who was related to a Salvadoran police officer.
- The suspect had an Interpol Blue Notice and was identified as a fugitive through FBI LEGAT San Salvador; he has been transferred to ICE custody for return to El Salvador.
📊 Relevant Data
Connecticut's Hispanic or Latino population increased from 13.4% in 2010 to 17.3% in 2020, representing a growth of about 30% in absolute numbers from 479,089 to 623,293 residents.
Census Data Shows Shifts In Connecticut's Demographics — CT News Junkie
High levels of crime and violence, a stagnant economy, and natural disasters are key push factors driving unauthorized migration from El Salvador to the United States.
El Salvador — Migration Policy Institute
Homicides increase the likelihood of migration from El Salvador by 188%, and economic informality increases it by 27%, according to recent analysis.
Recent Trends in Central American Migration — Inter-American Dialogue
El Salvador was designated for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in 2001 following devastating earthquakes, allowing eligible Salvadorans in the US to remain and work legally, with the designation extended multiple times, most recently to September 9, 2026.
Extension of the Designation of El Salvador for Temporary Protected Status — Federal Register
MS-13 originated in Los Angeles in the 1980s among Central American immigrants, particularly Salvadorans fleeing civil war, and has since expanded to other US regions including the East Coast.
MS-13 in the United States and Federal Law Enforcement Efforts — Congressional Research Service
📰 Source Timeline (1)
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