The Department of Homeland Security reported that over 1,300 illegal immigrants were arrested following a huge two-week operation that swept throughout Virginia and Maryland.
The operation, called “Operation Safe Community – Washington, D.C.,” began on August 1 and is primarily aimed at offenders with criminal histories, according to DHS.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin criticized legislators in Virginia and Maryland for prioritizing sanctuary policies over American safety. Every day, the heroic men and women of ICE fight tirelessly to remove these dangerous illegal aliens from our country. In just two weeks in Virginia and Maryland, they captured sexual assailants, kidnappers, drunk drivers, robbers, and gang members,” Mullin stated. ” While sanctuary politicians in Virginia and Maryland continue to prioritize the needs of illegal aliens over the safety of the American people, the Trump administration will always prioritize American citizens. “We will make America safe again by arresting and removing illegal aliens from our communities.”
According to DHS, the majority of the operation concentrated on the D.C. suburbs in Virginia and Maryland, although it also included other locations in both states.
Virginians for Safe Communities President Sean Kennedy is a public safety advocate and member of the Fairfax County Criminal Justice Advisory Board. He stated to 7News that the operation was vital. It’s impressive and heartwarming to see that ICE was able to apprehend these people, many of whom have violent and sexually predatory criminal records and need to be taken off the streets,” Kennedy added.
ICE officials made the following arrests in Washington, D.C. suburbs:
- German Mejia-Baires, arrested in Manassas, Virginia: alleged MS-13 gang member from El Salvador, who had previously been convicted for driving while intoxicated, driving on a suspended license, and illegal re-entry. He had also been arrested for felony malicious wounding and shoplifting.
- Julio Hector Carranza-Rojano, arrested in Manassas, Virginia: from Mexico, previously convicted for sexual battery, driving while intoxicated, and hit-and-run.
- Angel Gabriel Ortiz-Hernandez, arrested in Alexandria, Virginia: from Guatemala, criminal history includes arrests for rape of a mentally incapacitated victim and TWO counts of aggravated sexual battery of an incapacitated victim.
- Rowan Andrew Brown, arrested in Alexandria, Virginia: from Jamaica, previously convicted for identity theft, kidnapping adult, and illegal re-entry, and an arrest for fraud.
- Mauricio Antonio Barrera-Navidad, arrested in Hyattsville, Maryland: alleged MS-13 gang member from El Salvador, whose criminal history in El Salvador includes robbery, use and illegal possession of firearms, two counts of illicit association with illegal group (MS-13), and disorders and resistance.
“Almost 400 of the 1,328 illegal aliens captured in the United States have been convicted or charged with crimes, according to the Department of Homeland Security.” ICE officers made these arrests despite the sanctuary policies of many of the counties throughout Virginia and Maryland.”
The DHS apprehended members of violent street gangs, including MS-13, 18th Street Gang, and Tren de Aragua, during the operation. Once again, our agents are on the streets, arresting and removing criminal foreign criminals from American neighborhoods, this time in the Washington, D.C. region,” said Patricia Hyde, acting assistant director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations. “Our officers are the world’s greatest at locating those who do not want to be found. That is precisely what we accomplished during the course of this operation. Removing these criminal foreign criminals from Virginia and Maryland neighborhoods creates much safer communities, which is exactly what the men and women of ICE struggle to do every day across our wonderful country.”
Some local prosecutors have faced criticism for refusing to cooperate with ICE and dropping charges for persons who later commit further crimes. We have a number of cases in which people were accused of rape but eventually convicted of minor assault and battery. That is intolerable.
“Those people are not minor misdemeanor criminals,” Kennedy explained. “It sounds like ICE basically is not allowing that to happen, and they’re going to take these people out of the country.”
ICE is now detaining these individuals and preparing for deportation. If they are in ICE detention and are not released, they will be deported following their immigration court hearings,” Kennedy stated. “All of these crimes are preventable. Finally, they all deserved to face justice. They did not face justice; thus, they will be deported.
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