U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 1,328 individuals during a two-week sweep across Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The operation, designated “Operation Safe Community – Washington, D.C.,” ran from August 1 to August 14 and targeted noncitizens with criminal records, including nearly 400 people who have been convicted or charged with crimes in the United States.
Scope and Enforcement Targets Across the National Capital Region
While the enforcement effort concentrated heavily inside the District of Columbia, ICE officers executed operations throughout the entirety of Virginia and Maryland, according to DHS disclosures. The sweep targeted individuals with histories of serious offenses, including sexual battery, kidnapping, driving while intoxicated, hit-and-run, identity theft, robbery, murder, attempted murder, and rape. According to DHS statements, the agency’s Enforcement and Removal Operations teams apprehended members of transnational criminal street gangs such as MS-13, the 18th Street Gang, and Tren de Aragua during the two-week initiative.
Notable apprehensions highlighted by federal authorities include Eygner Wilfredo Huezo-Moran, who was wanted for murder in Richmond, Virginia; Angel Gabriel Ortiz-Hernandez, who was arrested on charges of rape and aggravated sexual battery; and German Mejia-Baires, an identified MS-13 gang member with prior convictions for driving while intoxicated and illegal re-entry, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Friction Over Regional Sanctuary Policies
Federal immigration officials explicitly connected the operation to local governance, criticizing regional jurisdictions for maintaining sanctuary policies. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin issued a statement asserting that local policies in Virginia and Maryland prioritize the needs of noncitizens over public safety. “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,” Mullin said.
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Acting Assistant Director Patricia Hyde praised the operational success of the field agents involved in the sweep. “Our officers are the best in the world at finding people who do not want to be located,” Hyde said. According to DHS, agents proceeded with the arrests despite restrictive cooperation policies maintained by various county governments across the two states.
Comparison to Prior Nationwide Sweeps
The mid-Atlantic operation follows a similar regional enforcement effort conducted in July. During “Operation Safe Community – Atlanta,” ICE officers arrested over 1,200 noncitizen offenders across the state of Georgia. Both operations reflect an active federal initiative to locate and deport individuals with criminal histories. The individuals taken into custody during the Washington-area sweep remain in ICE custody pending formal removal proceedings.
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