Machete-wielding MS-13 executioner known as ‘the witch’ captured by ICE in San Diego | Joe Pags

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

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