Dangerous MS-13 Fugitive With Terror Ties’ Caught in Kentucky After Routine Police Stop, ICE Reveals
PADUCAH, KENTUCKY — A documented MS-13 gang member with an extensive criminal record in El Salvador and pending U.S. drug charges was arrested in Kentucky following a joint operation between ICE, the ATF, and the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, officials confirmed.
The suspect, Omar Alexander Ramirez, had been released into the U.S. under the Biden administration’s parole protocols despite a known history of violent offenses. ICE described him as a known or suspected terrorist with ties to the transnational gang MS-13.
Arrested After Traffic Stop in Paducah
ICE said Ramirez was taken into custody on October 24 after Kentucky State Police pulled him over for a traffic violation in Paducah. Agents from the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Bowling Green office, ATF, and Lyon County Sheriff’s Office joined the operation, confirming his identity and gang ties through federal and international databases.
He was previously identified as a suspected terrorist after a May 2025 traffic stop by McCracken County deputies, who alerted federal agents. ICE later confirmed his criminal history in El Salvador and issued an arrest warrant on October 20, 2025.
Criminal History Spanning Two Countries
According to ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division, Ramirez’s criminal record in El Salvador includes multiple violent crimes dating back more than two decades:
- Statutory rape — November 16, 2002
- Extortion and aggravated theft — November 20, 2007
- Illicit associations — August 5, 2010
- Domestic violence — October 24, 2010
Authorities also said Ramirez had been involved in dangerous drug offenses in the U.S. and was known to have crossed the southern border illegally multiple times.
Released Under Federal Parole Program
Federal records show U.S. Border Patrol first detained Ramirez in June 2019 near Otay Mesa, California, before returning him to Mexico. However, under the Migrant Protection Protocols, he was paroled into the United States in 2021 and permitted to remain until March 14, 2022.
ICE officials said his release highlights ongoing challenges in tracking high-risk foreign nationals who enter the country under temporary humanitarian or parole programs.
ICE Praises Local Partnership With Kentucky Agencies
ICE Deputy Director Madison D. Sheahan credited the arrest to Kentucky’s 287(g) law enforcement partnerships, which allow local police to assist with immigration enforcement.
“Omar Ramirez, a documented MS-13 member who’s left a string of victims in his wake, is safely locked away thanks to our partnership with the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office,” Sheahan said.
“This is a great example of ICE empowering local law enforcement to keep dangerous criminal aliens out of our communities.”
Kentucky currently has 20 active 287(g) agreements with local sheriff’s offices, detention centers, and police departments, giving them the authority to collaborate directly with federal immigration officers.
Ramirez Remains in Federal Custody
Ramirez is being held pending court and removal proceedings. ICE said the arrest demonstrates their commitment to removing violent offenders and known terrorists from U.S. communities.
Residents are encouraged to report suspected criminal or gang activity to ICE’s tip line at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or through the online reporting form.
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