An illegal immigrant who allegedly is a Tren de Aragua gang leader was arrested by Homeland Security officials last week after flaunting grenades in a video on social media.
Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles shared a picture on Tuesday of Yonaiker Gallegos, who had been going by the name Yonaiker Martinez Ramos, on X, formerly Twitter.
Law enforcement officials confirmed that Homeland Security Investigations officials and Enforcement and Removal Operations Los Angeles officials “administratively arrested Yonaiker Martinez Ramos aka Yonaiker Gallegos, a suspected Tren de Aragua member, for being unlawfully present in the U.S. Martinez is a citizen of Venezuela and illegally crossed the border in Texas.”
According to Fox News, the alleged illegal immigrant gang leader had already been in local custody for the possession of a deceptive government identification and for blank checks. A senior Trump administration official told the outlet that Homeland Security Investigations located Gallegos on April 22 and determined that he was likely using the name Martinez-Ramos as a fake identity.
In a statement to Fox News, the Department of Homeland Security said, “On Tuesday evening April 22, 2025, HSI was able to locate Gallegos who was utilizing the false name Yoniaker Rafel MARTINEZ-RAMOS, who was in state custody in Los Angeles County on misdemeanor charges.”
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Fox News reported that Homeland Security Investigations’ National Gang Unit was able to obtain tattoo pictures and booking pictures of the illegal immigrant and identify him as Gallegos on April 23. Additionally, the Trump administration official said analysts were able to confirm his identity through social media pictures and posts.
The senior Trump administration official told Fox News that Gallegos was arrested for Title 8 immigration violations on April 25. The official also claimed that Gallegos had been “identified as a leader of TDA [Tren de Aragua] based in California.”
A video on social media appears to show Gallegos flaunting grenades and a firearm prior to his recent arrest by Homeland Security Investigations officials.
