The summertime shooting of an off-duty federal border patrol agent at a Manhattan park by a pair of scooter-riding immigrants sparked a massive roundup Big Apple gangbangers, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced at a Lower Manhattan press conference Thursday.
“Operation Salvo” targeted the Trinitarios street gang and took 54 members of the crew off the streets — with the feds laser-focused on the task after two reputed members shot and wounded the 42-year-old agent at Fort Washington Park on July 19.
“Those individuals would have never been in this country if they hadn’t been allowed in by the Biden Administration when they ignored our federal laws and allowed them to come in illegally,” Noem said.
“Now, the officer that was injured doesn’t seek public attention,” she said. “He wishes to remain anonymous, but he had a distinguished career and a legacy of service and continues to do so. But his life was forever altered by this heinous crime.”
The alleged gunman in the Manhattan shooting, 21-year-old Miguel Francisco Mora Nunez, was wounded when the federal cop returned fire — and was picked up by the NYPD just hours later.
Noem said she was incensed that “these scumbags” were members of the notorious gang, with the feds launching the operation to take down the crew.
She said about 60% of the alleged gangbangers busted during the operation were shipped back to their native countries to face criminal charges there.
“Those arrested are violent transnational gang members and affiliates associated with Trinitarios, who are responsible for weapons trafficking, for human smuggling, for narcotics distribution and for armed robberies,” Noem said. “They had perpetuated previous violent attacks across the city of New York City.”
Authorities did not release the names of the reputed gangbangers who were charged, and had photos of four of the suspects at the press conference with the charges they face — but no names.
Homeland Security officials did not immediately respond to a request for more information.
She said Salvo is “just the beginning” of the Trump Administration’s war on illegal criminals.
Trump was enraged over the July shooting in Manhattan.
“Last night, in New York City, an incredible CBP Officer was shot in the face by an Illegal Alien Monster freed into the Country under Joe Biden,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
“He was apprehended at the Border in April 2023 but, instead of being deported, was RELEASED,” he wrote. “The CBP Officer bravely fought off his attacker, despite his wounds, demonstrating enormous Skill and Courage,”
Frank Russo, director of New York Field Operations for CBP. said the 54 alleged gang members are “loosely affiliated” with Trinitarios.
Russo said the federal sweep was named in part in honor of the wounded officer.
“Salvo references a term of simultaneous discharge of guns in battle, and that’s what happened that night to our officer,” he said. “And he was so courageous, getting shot in the wrist and in the face and still firing back.
“He’s a hero to us and he inspires us each and every day. Finally, we felt the need as a premier law enforcement agent, with our partners, to unleash a salvo of justice.”
