Over the past six weeks, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement undertook a national operation that has resulted in almost 1,400 arrests across the country, including 52 locally in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, according to the agency.
The arrests were part of a six-week initiative, from March 26 to May 6, led by ICE's Homeland Security Investigations unit, which focuses on combating gangs and other criminal activity in the United States and overseas. They said identifying and capturing these criminals takes major help from local law enforcement as well.
Of those arrested, 1,098 were arrested on federal and/or state criminal charges, including 21 people arrested on murder-related charges and seven on rape and sexual assault charges.
A total of 280 individuals were arrested for immigration violations and will be "processed administratively for removal from the United States, " Deputy Executive Associate Director Derek Benner said at a news conference. Additionally, 933 of those arrested were U.S. citizens, while 445 were foreign nationals from Central and South America, Asia, Africa, Europe and the Caribbean, the news release said.
ICE said in a statement Thursday that 1,095 of those arrested in the latest action were confirmed as gang members or affiliated with gangs.
Of those, 1,095 were confirmed as gang members, ICE said, while the remaining 238 "were arrested on either criminal or administrative charges".
During the operation, HSI partnered with other law enforcement agencies to seize more than 200 firearms, narcotics like cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl and marijuana and $491,763 in US currency.
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In the state of Nevada, there was a total of five arrests made in the Las Vegas area as part of this operation. MS-13 accounted for 104 of the arrests, less than the Bloods or Sureños. Two had outstanding deportation orders.
According to a ICE news release, Most of the arrests were in Arizona, with 55 people detained. A search of the house found cocaine, meth, heroin, four handguns - one of which was stolen - and over $48,000 in cash. Half were federal offenses.
Olufemi Odeyami (left) and Brenda Jackson. Law enforcement partners provide actionable intelligence which is critical in the targeting of gangs and their membership for enforcement actions.
Sixteen of the Maryland arrests were MS-13.
The Trump administration has said MS-13 poses a particular risk to American communities and is among the most ruthless street gangs.
The effort targeted gang members and associates allegedly involved in crimes such as drug trafficking, weapons smuggling, human smuggling and sex trafficking, murder and racketeering.
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