Reputed Peruvian Gang Leader Arrested in Upstate New York

Facts

• The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced on Thursday that Gianfranco Torres-Navarro, a reputed gang leader wanted for 23 homicides in his native Peru, known also as 'Gianfranco 23,' was arrested in Endicott, New York.^[1]
• The arrest was reportedly made in a targeted operation as Torres-Navarro had been first detained upon his illegal entry into the US on May 16, near Roma, Texas, and was given a summons to appear in court on immigration charges.^[2][3]
• This comes as Peruvian authorities tracked communications and geolocations from Torres-Navarro and alleged affiliated gang members to locate him, requesting an international capture early last month.^[4][5]
• According to outlets in Peru, the alleged leader of 'Los Killers de Ventanilla y Callao' fled his home country after the killing of a retired police officer in March. He is now being held at a federal detention near Buffalo pending an immigration hearing.^[6]
• Mishelle Sol Ivanna Ortíz Ubillús — his reputed girlfriend, cashier, and lieutenant — was also found and arrested on Wednesday. According to the ICE, she is being held in Pennsylvania.^[7]
• Data from the US Customs and Border Protection shows over 14K 'criminal non-citizens' have been apprehended during FY2024, which runs through Sept. 30 — making the second-largest figure since 2017 for people with prior convictions.^[8]

Sources: ^[1]Associated Press, ^[2]ABC News, ^[3]NPR Online News, ^[4]Newsweek, ^[5]BBC News, ^[6]FOX News, ^[7]New York Post and ^[8]U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Narratives

• Republican narrative, as provided by Washington Examiner. Thanks to the Biden administration's loose border policies, a violent gang leader with a kill count of 23 was able to stroll into the US and be allowed to go on his way with just a mere notice. Democrats have failed on the southern border, and the story of Torres-Navarro demonstrates why immigration must be a major issue in the presidential race — especially as Kamala Harris pushes for decriminalizing illegal crossings.
• Democratic narrative, as provided by New York Times. While edge cases such as this one are sure to dominate headlines, the reality is that migrants are not contributing to crime in the US in a meaningful sense. Illegal immigration must be curbed, no doubt, but it is a myth promulgated by the GOP that those making the trek to the US are criminals coming to wreak havoc. We should applaud law enforcement for acting swiftly and in cooperation with their international partners.

Predictions