U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) apprehended 1,328 illegal immigrants in the Washington, D.C., region over a 14-day period, according to federal sources. The operation, titled "Operation Safe Community — Washington, D.C.," took place from August 1-14 in Virginia and Maryland.
Of those arrested, nearly 400 individuals possessed criminal convictions or had pending criminal charges. The charges and warrants included murder, rape, sexual assault, kidnapping, driving under the influence, robbery, and attempted murder. One Salvadoran national was reportedly wanted on a murder warrant in Richmond, Virginia.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated that the operation aimed to remove dangerous individuals from communities. He highlighted that the arrested individuals included those accused of sexual assault, kidnapping, drunk driving, robbery, and gang involvement. Mullin also criticized what he described as sanctuary policies in Virginia and Maryland, asserting that the administration prioritizes American citizens' safety.
The operation comes amid reports of rising crime involving illegal immigrants in areas such as Fairfax County, Virginia. A Department of Homeland Security report cited in other outlets suggests that a significant percentage of murders in Fairfax County were committed by individuals in the country illegally, fueling a debate about local sanctuary policies and public safety. The operation yielded images of ICE officers making arrests in the D.C. area.
This surge in enforcement actions follows broader immigration enforcement efforts. Federal sources indicated that this operation was among ICE's most successful to date in terms of the number of apprehensions in a concentrated period.