Mark Earley Jr., a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, said that the stabbing of corrections officers at Wallens Ridge underscores the urgent need to remove criminal gang members living in the U.S. illegally. The statement was made on X.
“Awful news out of Wallens Ridge,” said Earley Jr., House Representative. “Praying for the recovery of our Corrections Officers. This should make us redouble our efforts to ensure that criminal illegal aliens, and especially gang members, should not be in our midst. I’ll continue to back law enforcement, corrections officers, and efforts to get illegal gang members off the streets.”
On May 2, 2025, three corrections officers were stabbed at Wallens Ridge State Prison in Virginia during a targeted attack by inmates affiliated with MS-13. According to the Associated Press, five of the six attackers were MS-13 members from El Salvador who had entered the U.S. illegally and were convicted of violent crimes, including murder and rape. The sixth attacker, a U.S. citizen tied to the Sureño 13 gang, was also involved. The incident has intensified scrutiny on gang activity within correctional facilities and the risks posed by housing violent offenders.
As of April 2025, the Virginia Department of Corrections oversees about 27,000 inmates, with confirmed gang presence among the prison population, though exact figures on gang affiliation are not publicly reported. According to VADOC (Virginia Department of Corrections), high-risk groups like MS-13 and Sureño 13 are known to operate within several state facilities, prompting enhanced security protocols. The recent Wallens Ridge incident exemplifies the ongoing challenges of managing gang-affiliated inmates.
A study published by the Center for Violence Prevention & Community Safety found that 3.5% of undocumented immigrants reported gang affiliation compared to 5% of U.S. citizens. As cited in the report, undocumented immigrants were also less likely to earn income through illegal means, challenging assumptions that they disproportionately engage in criminal activity. The findings provide context for policy debates linking undocumented status to gang involvement.
Earley Jr., a Republican representing Virginia’s 73rd District, began his term in the House of Delegates in January 2024. According to the Virginia General Assembly and his campaign site, his legislative agenda includes strengthening law enforcement, addressing illegal immigration, and combating the opioid and fentanyl crisis. He also emphasizes transparency, limited government, and public safety reforms.
