A Venezuelan professional hitman wanted for at least four contract killings was arrested in Texas after living freely in the United States for over a year and a half following his illegal border crossing.
Key Takeaways
- Anthony Fabian Marin La Torre, a 42-year-old Venezuelan national and alleged hitman, was arrested by ICE officers in Grapevine, Texas on May 2
- Marin La Torre entered the U.S. illegally in September 2022 near San Luis, Arizona, alongside 25,495 other migrants who crossed into the Yuma Sector that month
- Federal authorities received information about his alleged crimes in February but didn’t apprehend him until nearly three months later
- The arrest involved cooperation between multiple federal agencies, including ICE, FBI, DEA, and US Marshals
- The suspect is now facing charges as an inadmissible alien and remains in ICE custody pending deportation
Suspected Venezuelan Hitman Apprehended After Living Freely in US
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and federal partners arrested 42-year-old Anthony Fabian Marin La Torre in Grapevine, Texas on May 2. The Venezuelan national, suspected of carrying out at least four contract killings in his home country, had been living undetected in the United States since illegally crossing the border in September 2022. This arrest highlights the ongoing national security threats posed by the flood of illegal immigrants who have crossed our southern border during the Biden-Harris administration.
Marin La Torre entered the country near San Luis, Arizona, as part of a group of 25,495 illegal aliens who crossed into the Yuma Sector that month alone. For nearly 20 months, this alleged professional hitman moved freely throughout American communities before federal authorities finally took action. ICE only received information about Marin La Torre’s alleged crimes in February, yet it still took federal officials nearly three months to locate and arrest him.
Federal Agencies Collaborate to Remove Criminal Threat
The successful apprehension of Marin La Torre required coordination between multiple federal agencies. The North Texas Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Strike Force led the operation, which included agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), ICE, and U.S. Marshals Service. This level of collaboration demonstrates the serious nature of the threat posed by the suspect and the resources required to remove just one dangerous criminal who entered the country illegally.
“This fugitive stands accused of some horrific crimes, further representing a threat in the communities of Texas that we will not tolerate. ICE Dallas will never relent in our priority of enhancing public safety and arresting and removing criminal alien threats from our streets,” said Josh Johnson, ICE Dallas field office director.
The suspect now faces charges as an inadmissible alien under the Immigration Nationality Act and remains in ICE custody in Texas pending deportation proceedings. While this outcome represents a success for law enforcement, it raises serious questions about how many other dangerous criminals have similarly crossed our borders undetected and continue to pose threats to American communities.
Border Security Failures Continue to Endanger Americans
Marin La Torre’s case exemplifies the ongoing national security crisis at our southern border. The fact that a suspected professional hitman could enter the country illegally and live undetected for nearly two years highlights the catastrophic failure of border security policies. The Biden-Harris administration’s prioritization of processing and releasing illegal aliens rather than securing the border has created a dangerous situation where violent criminals can freely enter our communities.
“FBI Dallas, along with our North Texas OCDETF Strike Force partners, is committed to our mutual objective of ensuring community safety. We will continue to provide critical analytical, investigative, and tactical resources to identify and locate dangerous criminals to bring them to justice,” said R. Joseph Rothrock, FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge.
This case serves as a stark reminder of why border security is a fundamental national security issue. While law enforcement agencies deserve credit for eventually removing this particular threat, the underlying policy failures that allowed this criminal to enter and remain in the country must be addressed. President Trump has consistently emphasized the importance of securing our borders first before addressing other immigration issues, a position that cases like this only further validate.
