Alexandria, Va. — Federal prosecutors have dropped charges against Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos, a 24-year-old Virginia man previously accused of overseeing East Coast operations for the notorious MS-13 gang.
On the week of April 7, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a motion to dismiss the case against Villatoro Santos in U.S. District Court in Alexandria. The decision came just weeks after his arrest by federal agents in Dale City, Virginia, on March 27. Villatoro Santos had been taken into custody under allegations that he was a leader of MS-13, a violent transnational gang with a significant presence in parts of the United States.
The arrest had garnered widespread attention, with Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) publicly labeling Villatoro Santos as a key figure in MS-13’s East Coast operations. However, despite these bold assertions, the government has yet to provide substantial details supporting the charges. As a result, the DOJ moved to dismiss the case, leaving many questions unanswered.
ICE confirmed that Villatoro Santos is now in the process of being deported from the United States, a shift from the initial criminal prosecution. He had entered the country illegally as a teenager in 2014 and was detained at the Texas-Mexico border before being released into the custody of his mother in Manassas, Virginia. Later, he received legal work authorization, but that status was revoked in 2023 for reasons that remain unspecified.
Villatoro Santos’ arrest had been praised by public officials as part of a broader crackdown on gang activity in the region. Elected leaders emphasized that his capture was a significant step in dismantling criminal networks and enhancing public safety. However, the sudden dismissal of the federal charges against him has raised concerns among immigrant rights advocates, who argue that the case highlights broader issues with the treatment of undocumented immigrants and the transparency of criminal investigations.
At present, Villatoro Santos remains in custody as ICE moves forward with deportation proceedings. His attorneys have filed a motion to delay the final deportation order by 14 days, asking for additional time to review the case. The outcome of these proceedings will determine whether Villatoro Santos will be removed from the United States or face further legal challenges.
The situation underscores the ongoing debates surrounding immigration enforcement, gang-related crimes, and the balance between public safety and the rights of individuals facing deportation. While the criminal case has been dismissed, the legal battle over Villatoro Santos’ status in the country appears far from over.
