U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents recently arrested 26-year-old Brayan Eleazar Angulo-Barrios in Hyattsville, Maryland. Angulo-Barrios, a known member of the 18th Street gang, had been shielded from arrest by local authorities. He was released from the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections despite an immigration detainer filed by ICE.
Angulo-Barrios has a troubling criminal history. He was previously convicted of possessing a loaded handgun and of narcotics distribution. In August 2023, he received a one-year prison sentence and three years of supervised probation for these offenses. Earlier, in July 2022, he was arrested for having a loaded handgun in his vehicle and was sentenced to 110 days in jail for that charge.
ICE reported that Angulo-Barrios entered the U.S. illegally and has no legal immigration status. His troubles with the law continued when he was arrested again in April 2024 for violating probation. ICE lodged an immigration detainer on him on April 19, 2024. However, the Prince George’s County Department of Corrections released him four days later, allowing him to remain free until his arrest last week.
A final order of removal was issued for Angulo-Barrios on April 22, and he is currently in ICE custody, awaiting deportation to El Salvador. This case highlights ongoing concerns about local law enforcement’s handling of criminal illegal aliens. Maryland officials have faced criticism for their sanctuary policies, which critics argue endanger public safety by allowing dangerous individuals to remain on the streets.
In response to these issues, the White House has condemned the sanctuary policies in Maryland. Officials have pointed to recent incidents, including a murder case involving an illegal immigrant who was released despite an ICE detainer, as examples of the dangers posed by such policies. In light of these events, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at punishing states and municipalities that protect criminal illegal aliens.
As the debate over immigration and public safety continues, cases like Angulo-Barrios’s will likely remain at the forefront of discussions about how best to balance community safety with immigration enforcement.