ICE, US Marshals arrest illegal alien and alleged Tren de Aragua gang member after New York arrest for felony assault

BUFFALO, N.Y. - ICE Buffalo's Fugitive Operations Team officers and U.S. Marshals Service deputies arrested Jairo Antonio Molina Moron, an illegal alien from Venezuela and suspected member of the transnational terrorist organization Tren de Aragua during a targeted operation in Albion May 24. The 38-year-old alleged gang member has local charges pending for felony assault with intent to cause physical injury with a weapon or instrument.

"Transnational criminal gang members are not welcome in New York," said Enforcement and Removal Operations New York acting Field Office Director Philip Rhoney. "We will never waver in our resolve to ensure these criminals gang members are not free to terrorize New Yorkers. I am grateful to our officers and our federal partners for their work to keep violent illegal aliens off the streets in our state and our country."

Molina was paroled into the United States in 2023 under the Biden administration's reckless open-door border policy. The New York City Police Department arrested Molina for assault with intent to cause physical injury in December 2024, but those charges were subsequently dropped. The Yonkers Police Department arrested Molina for felony assault with intent to cause physical injury with a weapon or instrument in February 2025. ICE lodged an immigration detainer against him, but local authorities refused to honor it and released Molina back into the community.

"The arrest of Molina Moron is the product of teamwork, coordination and a relentless commitment to protecting communities through collaboration," said District of Western New York U.S. Marshal Charles Salina. "We are proud to work with our ICE partners and other federal agencies with immigration enforcement efforts."

Molina is detained in ICE custody pending immigration proceedings.

If you have information about criminal alien activity in your community, call the ICE Tip Line at 866-DHS-2-ICE or complete the online tip form.

ICE's Buffalo field office is responsible for conducting immigration enforcement in 48 of the 62 counties in New York. Learn more about its public safety mission on X at @EROBuffalo.