Frederick County sheriff calls out agencies that don't work with ICE to combat MS-13 gang

FREDERICK, Md. - The sheriff of Frederick County had harsh words for law enforcement agencies he believes aren't doing enough to crack down on MS-13.

Frederick County Sheriff Charles Jenkins called out neighboring agencies that refuse to work with U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement to eradicate the violent gang.

"This group ought to be treated like a domestic terrorist group," Jenkins told FOX 5.

Five suspected MS-13 gang members are currently locked up in Frederick County for murder. Among the five include Carlos Javier Hernandez Diaz and Darwin Alberto Arias-Meijia, who are accused in a recent rape.

"Once we lock these people up and get them off the street, our greatest progress comes in the fact that we're working with ICE and the 287 program so once we arrest these folks, we can get them off the streets then after they serve their sentences, they're turned over to ICE and they're removed from the country," Jenkins explained.

The sheriff said he's doing what all law enforcement should be doing across the country but often don't.

"I don't know why people in law enforcement and political leaders are afraid to admit the fact that we have this problem to deal with. I think it's political will. I think most people are afraid to tackle the problem. They're afraid of the kickback, the blow back. They don't have the political will or the stomach to do it," Jenkins said.

Over the past two to three years, Jenkins said there has been an influx of violent crimes committed by MS-13 and that the gang has created a public safety issue.

Currently, there are a reported 8,000 MS-13 gang members in the U.S.