Trump touts efforts at combating MS-13 gang

“As promised, our campaign against the MS-13 gang continues,” Trump said, before linking to a report by Breitbart News that said federal immigration officials arrested 39 MS-13 gang members.

In describing its strategy to enforce immigration laws aggressively, the Trump administration has repeatedly invoked the threat of MS-13.

Responding to a recent surge of violence linked to MS-13 on Long Island, N.Y., U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions visited with local law enforcement in late April, and vowed to contest the gang by cracking down on illegal immigration.

“The MS-13 motto is kill, rape, and control,” Sessions said at the U.S. Courthouse on Long Island. “Our motto is justice for victims and consequences for criminals. That’s how simple it is. Prosecute them, and after they’ve been convicted, if they’re not here lawfully, they’re going to be deported.”

On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on MS-13 about how the federal government can prevent the gang from recruiting unaccompanied minors from Central America who have immigrated illegally in record numbers over recent years.

A recent Washington Post report linked a surge in MS-13 violence around the country to its recruitment of unaccompanied minors.

Later Thursday night, Trump tweeted again about immigration, reiterating his vow to build a wall on the Mexico border.

“Mexico was just ranked the second deadliest country in the world, after only Syria,” Trump said. “Drug trade is largely the cause. We will BUILD THE WALL!”