Virginia Prison Attack Spurs Gang, Immigration Debate

Six inmates, five of whom are MS-13 gang members from El Salvador in the U.S. illegally and one a U.S. citizen affiliated with Sureño 13, carried out a premeditated stabbing attack on corrections officers at Wallens Ridge State Prison in Virginia around 9:45 a.m. on Friday. Three officers suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, while two others sustained minor injuries. All five MS-13 inmates had prior convictions for violent crimes such as murder and rape, and the Sureño 13 member was serving a sentence for second-degree murder. Virginia Department of Corrections Director Chad Dotson condemned the attack, highlighting the dangers faced by corrections officers and raising concerns about the presence of violent gang members in the prison system. Authorities have not released information about injuries to the inmates, and the prison remains on lockdown as the investigation continues. The incident has reignited debate over gang violence and immigration enforcement.