1,300 arrested after ICE's 'Operation Safe Community' in Virginia and Maryland

Key Points:

• The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) arrested over 1,300 illegal immigrants in a two-week operation called "Operation Safe Community – Washington, D.C.," targeting individuals with criminal histories in Virginia and Maryland.
• DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin criticized sanctuary policies in Virginia and Maryland, accusing local politicians of prioritizing illegal immigrants over American public safety.
• Nearly 400 of those arrested have been convicted or charged with crimes in the U.S., including offenses such as sexual assault, kidnapping, and gang activity, with several linked to gangs like MS-13.
• ICE officials emphasized that the arrests help make communities safer by removing dangerous offenders, despite local policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
• The detainees are currently in ICE custody and will face deportation following immigration court hearings, with local public safety advocates supporting the operation as a necessary measure to prevent further crime.