The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that a two-week immigration enforcement operation, "Operation Safe Community – Washington, D.C.," resulted in the arrest of 1,328 illegal aliens across Virginia and Maryland. Conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) between August 1 and August 14, the operation targeted individuals with significant criminal histories.
The arrested individuals had criminal records including convictions for sexual battery, kidnapping, driving while intoxicated, hit-and-run, identity theft, and robbery, alongside arrests for murder, attempted murder, and rape. Nearly 400 of those arrested had either been convicted or charged with crimes in the United States, and many were members of transnational criminal street gangs such as MS-13, 18th Street Gang, and Tren de Aragua.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said, "The brave men and women of ICE are hard at work every single day getting these dangerous illegal aliens out of our country. Over the course of just two weeks in Virginia and Maryland, they arrested sexual assailants, kidnappers, drunk drivers, robbers, and gang members." He added that "While sanctuary politicians in Virginia and Maryland keep putting the needs of illegal aliens over the safety of the American people, the Trump Administration will always put American citizens first."
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Acting Assistant Director Patricia Hyde commented, "Once again, our officers are out in the streets arresting and removing criminal alien offenders from American communities - this time in the Washington, D.C. area." Hyde emphasized that removing these individuals "makes for much safer communities, and that is exactly what the men and women of ICE work to accomplish every day across our great nation."
Among those arrested were Eygner Wilfredo Huezo-Moran, wanted for murder in Richmond, Virginia; Actionel Pierre, with arrests for attempted murder and assault; and Angel Gabriel Ortiz-Hernandez, arrested for rape and aggravated sexual battery. The operation, which followed a similar initiative in Atlanta, underscores Secretary Mullin's commitment to deporting illegal aliens and aligns with President Trump's promise to enhance community safety.