The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE), along with various law enforcement bodies, detained 189 undocumented immigrants with criminal records in the Washington, D.C. area from May 6 to May 9.
During this operation, ICE also sent compliance notices to 187 local businesses to make sure they were following federal regulations. A statement from ICE indicated that some of those arrested were affiliated with gangs like MS-13, Tren de Aragua, and 18th Street.
Notably, one individual apprehended was a 30-year-old from El Salvador, who has a history of violent actions, including wielding a machete. Authorities also detained a 25-year-old from Guatemala, whose offenses include threats and attempts to possess a banned weapon.
Additionally, a 36-year-old man from Mexico was arrested on charges ranging from theft to illegal entry, and he had a record of various misdemeanors. Another suspect, a 47-year-old Guatemalan, had gang tattoos and was accused of sexual assault and abuse.
Russell Hott, the director of field offices in D.C., stated that the hard work of ICE and its partners has made D.C. significantly safer. He emphasized that this crackdown focused on the most dangerous criminals in areas known for higher crime rates.
US attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. highlighted the strong guidance from President Donald Trump and his administration regarding these enforcement actions, noting that violations of immigration laws will be met with serious consequences.
Foreign criminals convicted of aggravated felonies are set for expedited deportation under ICE’s Criminal Alien Program.
