Fact Check: The U.S. government investigation into MS-13 was led by Joint Task Force Vulcan, which was created at the request of President Trump in 2019.

Fact Check: "The U.S. government investigation into MS-13 was led by Joint Task Force Vulcan, which was created at the request of President Trump in 2019."

What We Know

Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV) was indeed created in August 2019 as part of a broader initiative to combat MS-13, a violent transnational gang. This task force was established following directives from President Trump, who had previously called for a coordinated effort against MS-13 in 2017. According to the Department of Justice, the task force aims to disrupt and dismantle MS-13's operations through a whole-of-government approach, which includes collaboration with various law enforcement agencies both domestically and internationally.

The formation of JTFV was part of the recommendations from the MS-13 subcommittee under the Attorney General's Transnational Organized Crime Task Force, which was a direct result of President Trump's executive order in February 2017. This order directed multiple federal agencies, including the Departments of Justice, State, and Homeland Security, to work together to dismantle transnational criminal organizations like MS-13 (source-1).

Analysis

The claim that the U.S. government investigation into MS-13 was led by JTFV, created at President Trump's request, is supported by multiple credible sources. The Department of Justice explicitly states that JTFV was launched to combat MS-13, and Attorney General William Barr confirmed that the initiative was a response to President Trump's directive to "go to war against MS-13." This indicates a clear connection between the task force's creation and the President's request.

Additionally, a recent article corroborates this information, noting that JTFV was indeed formed in response to the President's call for a more aggressive approach to tackling MS-13. The task force has been involved in significant operations leading to the arrests and indictments of various MS-13 leaders, demonstrating its active role in the investigation and prosecution of gang-related crimes.

While the sources cited are from government and official announcements, which tend to have a pro-administration bias, the consistency of the information across multiple credible outlets lends reliability to the claim. The Department of Justice and other law enforcement agencies are generally viewed as authoritative sources on such matters.

Conclusion

The claim that "The U.S. government investigation into MS-13 was led by Joint Task Force Vulcan, which was created at the request of President Trump in 2019" is True. The establishment of JTFV was a direct response to President Trump's directives aimed at dismantling MS-13, and the task force has been actively involved in significant law enforcement operations against the gang.

Sources

1. The Department of Justice Announces Takedown of Key MS-13 Criminal Leadership
2. High Ranking MS-13 Leader and Fugitive Wanted for Multiple Murders Found and Arrested in Long Island
3. The Takedown of Key MS-13 Criminal Leaders
4. Homeland Security Investigations announces indictment of MS-13 leaders
5. Delay, Interfere, Undermine