ICE arrests 3 Tren de Aragua gang members in mass deportation push

Nestor Jose Mendoza-Garcia was nabbed Thursday in San Antonio, Texas, and Elmer Aparicio-Castillo and an unidentified 36-year-old man were arrested the same day in Nashville, all after allegedly entering the country illegally last year when they were processed and arrested by the Biden administration. 

"Members of the savage Venezuelan prison gang known as Tren de Aragua. You know that gang? This is not a nice group of people. They formed in prison, and then [Venezuela] dumped their prisons into our country. 

"They're as bad as the bloodthirsty MS-13 gangs."

Mendoza-Garcia arrived in the U.S. in October and was issued a notice to appear before being released. 

On Thursday, ICE San Antonio obtained a federal indictment and arrest warrant for Mendoza-Garcia for being an alien in possession of a gun. He is an active member of the gang, the official said. 

Aparicio-Castillo was issued a notice to appear after an encounter with ICE in El Paso, Texas, in September. 

He was arrested by ICE Nashville Thursday for allegedly being an alien in possession of a gun. He also allegedly has links to the gang. 

Aparicio-Castillo's criminal history includes charges of evading arrest, promoting prostitution and marijuana possession in Nashville. 

After his criminal adjudication, Aparicio-Castillo will be administratively arrested for immigration proceedings, the official said. 

The 36-year-old unidentified Venezuelan entered the U.S. illegally through Eagle Pass, Texas, in December and was issued a notice to appear. 

His criminal history also includes evading arrest, promoting prostitution and marijuana possession in Nashville. 

He was administratively arrested by ICE Nashville Thursday. 

Fox News' Bill Melugin contributed to this report.