"So far this fiscal year, 481 gang members have been apprehended trying to cross our border illegally", the statement read. "This crisis is endangering the safety of American families".
READ MORE: DoD: US Army Engineers Issue $789Mln Contract for Mexico Border Wall Replacement
The gang members are crossing with up to 1 million migrants from three Central American countries – El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras – who are expected to enter the US illegally this year in a bid for political asylum, according to US officials.
The MS-13 gang — previously known as La Mara Salvatrucha — reportedly emerged in 2012 as transnational criminal organization.
The Trump administration has claimed that MS-13 had more than 10,000 members, mostly immigrants or the children of immigrants from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.
READ MORE: US Arrests 20 MS-13 Gang Members in California — Justice Department
In March, US President Donald Trump declared a national emergency and requested $32.5 billion in funds for border security in fiscal year 2020, including $8.6 billion for building a border wall. Trump insisted that the wall is needed to prevent criminals and terrorists from crossing into the United States.
