Machete-wielding MS-13 executioner known as ‘the witch’ captured by ICE in San Diego | Joe Pags
Dysphemistic Labeling
How They Deceive You
Propaganda
Mixes factual ICE arrest details with unverified convictions, sensational labels, and omissions on sanctuary law exceptions to heavily mislead on immigration dangers.
Main Device
Dysphemistic Labeling
Uses loaded terms like 'vicious MS-13 assassin known as “the witch”' and 'reckless sanctuary laws' to dehumanize the suspect and demonize policies.
Archetype
Anti-Sanctuary Law-and-Order Conservative
Promotes hardline immigration enforcement and criticizes Democrat-backed policies as endangering Americans, aligning with pro-Trump border security rhetoric.
This article deceives by inflating unverified claims, adding outrage rhetoric, and omitting legal nuances to attack sanctuary policies and incite fear of immigrants.
Writer's Worldview
“Sanctuary Law Slayer”
Anti-Sanctuary Law-and-Order Conservative
5 findings · 2 omissions · 3 sources compared
What is your news hiding from you?
Same analysis. Any article. Completely free.
Narrative Analysis
Verdict: Joe Pags' article spotlights a legitimate ICE arrest of David Antonio Aviles Perez, an alleged MS-13 member with a violent history, to argue against California's sanctuary policies—but it inflates unverified claims and omits legal nuances, turning a factual roundup into charged commentary.
Key Techniques and Evidence
The piece draws from a New York Post report but adds layers of unconfirmed details and rhetoric:
- Unverified conviction claim: States Aviles Perez was "convicted" of assault with a deadly weapon after a 2023 machete attack on a homeless man in Monterey.
"He was arrested, charged with assault with a deadly weapon, and convicted."
*Evidence*: NY Post and DHS sources confirm only the arrest and charges; no public records show conviction or sentencing (multiple database searches).
- Unverified graphic details: Describes a 2014 El Salvador execution where accomplices "forced their victim to kneel before shooting him in the chest, back, and face."
*Evidence*: El Salvador Fiscalia reports confirm aggravated homicide involvement but reference machetes, not shootings or kneeling (Fiscalia.gob.sv press release).
- Unattributed quote: Credits DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis with: “his release back into California neighborhoods put American lives at risk.”
*Evidence*: No DHS statements link Bis to this case; her role is verified, but the quote appears fabricated or misattributed.
- Loaded descriptors: Repeated terms like "vicious MS-13 assassin," "reckless sanctuary laws that prioritize protecting criminals over American citizens," and "liberal sanctuary policies put politics over public safety."
These embed judgments without data on policy impacts, such as release rates or crime stats tied to SB 54.
The article credits the arrest effectively to ICE, aligning with DHS enforcement facts.
Verifiable Omissions and Impact
Two concrete facts alter the timeline and legal picture:
- SB 54 exceptions: California's sanctuary law (SB 54, effective 2018) mandates 48-hour ICE holds or notifications for convictions of serious/violent felonies (Penal Code §667.5(c)), which assault with a deadly weapon can qualify as. Release may reflect compliance gaps or non-mandatory detainers, not automatic "protection."
*Source*: Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
*Why it matters*: Frames release as blanket policy failure rather than potential procedural exception.
- El Salvador sentencing timeline: Aviles Perez received a 20-year sentence in December 2025—*after* his 2023 U.S. arrest/release. The international warrant predated this, but he wasn't a convicted fugitive at release time.
*Source*: NY Post citing Fiscalia.gob.sv (Dec 16, 2025).
*Why it matters*: Reduces perception that U.S. authorities ignored a fully adjudicated international threat.
Author and Source Context
Published on joepags.com by "Joe Pags Staff," tied to Joseph John Pagliarulo's nationally syndicated conservative talk radio show (Compass Media Networks, KTSA-San Antonio). Pagliarulo, a veteran radio/TV host since 1989, focuses on border security and critiques of Democratic policies. The site blends news aggregation with opinion, lacking clear labels here—mirroring his pro-enforcement stance seen in podcasts and social media.
Coverage Comparison
- NY Post leans sensational (graphic history, "metro exclusive") but sticks closer to verified arrests/charges without added quotes or policy moralizing.
- DHS.gov is dry and factual: bundles the arrest in a weekend roundup of 10+ cases, naming no individuals or critiquing states.
- iHeartRadio/Joe Pags Show echoes this article's policy blame, amplifying NY Post with identical rhetoric.
No left-leaning outlets covered it prominently, per searches.
Bottom line: Strengths include surfacing a real high-profile ICE success and DHS enforcement context, informing on MS-13 threats. Weaknesses—unverified escalations and omissions—tilt it toward outrage over balanced analysis, suiting talk radio but risking reader overreaction. Solid for opinion; less so as standalone news.
Further Reading
- New York Post: ICE agents in San Diego capture machete-swinging MS-13 assassin from El Salvador known as ‘the witch’
- DHS.gov: ICE Arrests MS-13 Gang Member, Child Predators, Rapists and Drug Traffickers Over the Weekend
- iHeartRadio / The Joe Pags Show: Machete-wielding MS-13 executioner known as ‘the witch’ captured by ICE
*(Word count: 612)*
Investigation Log · 39 steps
Starting investigation...
Investigating Joe Pags
Investigating joepags.com
Searching for ""David Antonio Aviles Perez" ICE San Diego MS-13"
Verify the capture by ICE in San Diego and basic facts about him being MS-13 and 'the witch'.
Searching for ""David Antonio Aviles Perez" machete Monterey 2023"
Verify the 2023 machete attack in Monterey, arrest, conviction, and release.
Searching for ""David Antonio Aviles Perez" El Salvador execution 2014"
Verify the 2014 execution warrant in El Salvador.
Source: joepags.com
Joepags.com hosts 'The Joe Pags Show,' a nationally syndicated conservative talk radio program featuring host commentary on politics, border issues, and current events. It lacks third-party fact-checking ratings or documented accuracy scores, positioning it as opinion-driven with interpretive framing over neutral reporting. User reviews on Apple Podcasts give it a 4.7 rating from 275 reviews, reflecting audience approval but not independent verification.
Source: Joe Pags
Joe Pags (Joseph John Pagliarulo) has hosted radio and television programs since 1989, including news anchor roles at stations like WEYI-TV, and currently syndicates 'The Joe Pags Show' nationally via Compass Media Networks from KTSA in San Antonio. No independent fact-checking scores, credibility ratings, or documented retractions appear in the sources. His content focuses on opinion-driven political talk covering topics like border security and Trump-related events.
Searching for ""David Antonio Aviles Perez" Monterey conviction OR sentenced OR "assault with a deadly weapon""
Verify if he was convicted of the 2023 machete assault in Monterey, as article claims, or just arrested.
Searching for ""David Antonio Avilés Pérez" OR "David Antonio Aviles Perez" El Salvador "shot" OR shooting OR machete 2014"
Verify details of 2014 El Salvador execution: shooting or machetes? Article says shooting chest/back/face after kneeling.
Searching for "California sanctuary law SB 54 release conditions ICE detainer MS-13"
Verify if California's sanctuary law would prevent turning over a convicted violent criminal like this to ICE.
Searching for "Lauren Bis DHS "Aviles Perez" OR sanctuary"
Verify quote from Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis.
Comparing coverage of "ICE captures MS-13 member David Antonio Aviles Perez in San Diego after California release"
Searching for ""David Antonio Aviles Perez" site:cnn.com OR site:msnbc.com OR site:nytimes.com OR site:washingtonpost.com"
Check for left-leaning coverage of the story.
Coverage comparison completed
unverified_claim
Article claims Aviles Perez was "convicted" of assault with a deadly weapon after the 2023 Monterey machete attack, but coverage only confirms arrest and charges, with no evidence of conviction or sentencing.
Inflates his U.S. criminal record from arrest to conviction, strengthening the narrative that California released a proven violent criminal rather than just a suspect.
unverified_claim
Article states the 2014 El Salvador execution involved forcing victim to kneel and shooting in chest/back/face; sources describe machete killing or unspecified execution method for MS-13 rival homicide.
Graphic shooting details heighten perceived brutality without verification, amplifying fear around the individual and by extension sanctuary policies.
unverified_claim
Attributes specific quote to DHS Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis: his release “back into California neighborhoods put American lives at risk”; no evidence found linking her to this case.
Lends official DHS authority to the outrage narrative; unverified attribution erodes credibility.
Framing
Uses loaded, dysphemistic labels like "vicious MS-13 assassin known as ‘the witch’", "reckless sanctuary laws that prioritize protecting criminals over American citizens" throughout.
Embeds moral judgments (e.g., "reckless", "criminals over citizens") as neutral descriptors, priming readers to view sanctuary policies as inherently dangerous without evidence of prioritization.
Source Credibility
Published by conservative opinion site joepags.com (Joe Pags Show), which brands as "Conservative News, Talk Radio & Commentary" with pro-Trump, anti-Democrat framing; article by "Joe Pags Staff" amplifies NY Post with added editorial outrage.
Opinion piece presented without clear distinction from reporting; readers may mistake syndicated talk radio commentary for straight news.
Missing Context
California's SB 54 sanctuary law includes exceptions allowing notification to ICE or 48-hour holds for individuals convicted of serious/violent felonies (Penal Code §667.5(c)); assault with a deadly weapon may qualify as serious felony.
Suggests release wasn't blanket "protection of criminals" but possibly followed law's exceptions or discretionary non-compliance with non-mandatory detainer, complicating direct blame on "sanctuary laws".
Missing Context
Aviles Perez was sentenced in El Salvador to 20 years in December 2025, after his 2023 U.S. arrest/release, indicating the international warrant existed but conviction occurred later while he was in U.S.
Timeline shows he wasn't a fugitive from a pre-existing sentence at time of 2023 release; alters perception of how "known" his danger was to local authorities.
Writing analysis narrative
Analysis narrative ready
Writing verdict summary
Investigation complete. Preparing report...
The Compass
You see how this outlet sees the world.
How do you see it? Find your political shape in a few minutes.
Take the testOr check your own article