by WorldTribune Staff, August 25, 2026 Non-AI Real World News
During a wide-ranging 14-day sweep known as “Operation Safe Community – Washington, D.C.,” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 1,328 illegal aliens in Virginia and Maryland.
According to the official Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announcement, the enforcement operation, which took place between Aug. 1 and Aug. 14, primarily focused on the DC metropolitan suburbs but extended throughout both states.
Nearly 400 of those arrested have either been convicted of or are currently charged with crimes in the United State, including individuals connected to murder, attempted murder, rape, sexual battery, kidnapping, and felony hit-and-run.
As part of the operation, federal agents apprehended alleged members of transnational street gangs, including MS-13, the 18th Street Gang, and Tren de Aragua.
The arrests included:
• Wilfredo Huezo-Moran: A Salvadoran national arrested in Chesterfield, Virginia, wanted on an active warrant for murder and use of a firearm in Richmond.
• Angel Gabriel Ortiz-Hernandez: An illegal alien from Guatemala whose history includes arrests for rape of a mentally incapacitated victim and two counts of aggravated sexual battery of an incapacitated victim.
• Actionel Pierre: A Haitian national arrested in Wicomico County, Maryland, with a violent rap sheet including attempted murder and assault.
• German Mejia-Baires: An alleged MS-13 member arrested in Manassas, Virginia, previously convicted of illegal reentry and driving under the influence.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin publicly criticized local “sanctuary policies,” stating that federal agents successfully executed the mission despite a lack of cooperation from local jurisdictions.
“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,” Mullin said.
“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.”
The operation comes after a similar ICE operation in Georgia in July, where officers arrested more than 1,200 illegal alien offenders.
“Once again, our officers are out in the streets arresting and removing criminal alien offenders from American communities – this time in the Washington, D.C. area,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Assistant Director Patricia Hyde.
“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.”
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