The arrests occurred from Aug. 1 to Aug. 14 as part of “Operation Safe Community—Washington, D.C.” The operation focused on communities surrounding the nation’s capital, though officers made arrests throughout both states, officials said.
Those arrested included people convicted of or charged with murder, attempted murder, rape, sexual battery, kidnapping, robbery, identity theft, drunken driving, and hit-and-run offenses, according to DHS. ICE officers also arrested members of MS-13, the 18th Street gang, and Tren de Aragua.
“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,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement.
“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. By arresting and removing illegal aliens from our communities, we will make America safe again,” he said.
The agency highlighted the arrest of Eygner Wilfredo Huezo-Moran, a Salvadoran national wanted on a murder warrant in Richmond, Virginia. In Wicomico County, Maryland, officers arrested Actionel Pierre, a Haitian national with previous arrests for attempted murder, two counts of assault, possession of a dangerous weapon with intent to injure, and reckless endangerment, according to DHS. Pierre remains in ICE custody pending removal, officials said.
ICE officers in Harrisonburg, Virginia, arrested Estrella Reyes-Funez, a Honduran national convicted of felony hit-and-run, DHS said. The agency also reported previous arrests involving an alleged threat to bomb or burn, assault and battery against a family member, and violation of a protective order. Reyes-Funez remains in custody pending immigration proceedings, officials said.
Another person arrested, German Mejia-Baires of El Salvador, was identified by DHS as an MS-13 member. The agency said he has convictions for driving while intoxicated, driving with a suspended license, and illegal reentry, along with arrests for felony malicious wounding and shoplifting. Officers arrested him in Manassas, Virginia.
Other arrests included a Jamaican national convicted of kidnapping, identity theft, and illegal reentry in Alexandria, and a Mexican national convicted of sexual battery, drunken driving, and hit-and-run in Manassas. Both men remain in federal custody pending removal, officials said.
“Our officers are the best in the world at finding people who do not want to be located. That’s exactly what we did throughout the course of this operation. Removing these criminal alien offenders from Virginia and Maryland neighborhoods 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,” said Patricia Hyde, acting assistant director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations.