Gov. Moore claims DHS carried out mass arrests without notifying state leaders

ICE Operation in Virginia and Maryland Arrests More Than 1,300

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 1,328 people during a two-week operation in Virginia and Maryland, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on Monday. The operation, called "Operation Safe Community, Washington, D.C.," ran from August 1 to August 14 and focused on individuals with criminal histories, according to reports from both Baltimore News and the Santa Clarita Valley Signal.

DHS said almost 400 of those arrested had been convicted of or charged with crimes in the United States, as reported by multiple outlets. The agency highlighted arrests of individuals with backgrounds including sexual battery, kidnapping, robbery, driving while intoxicated, and illegal reentry. Among those named were German Mejia Baires and Julio Hector Carranza Rojano in Manassas, Angel Gabriel Ortiz Hernandez and Rowan Andrew Brown in Alexandria, and Mauricio Antonio Barrera Navidad in Hyattsville — information carried by WJLA, which also obtained video of the arrests. The same outlet reported that DHS said most enforcement activity was concentrated in the Washington suburbs of Virginia and Maryland, with some extending into other parts of both states.

The agency also said that members of the MS-13, 18th Street, and Tren de Aragua gangs were among those arrested, according to WJLA and the Santa Clarita Valley Signal.

Governor Moore Says Federal Officials Did Not Notify

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore responded to the operation, saying that federal officials did not notify state leaders in advance. Moore also said he supports federal enforcement against violent offenders but has concerns about the broader sweep, as reported by Baltimore News and WJLA.

Moore pointed to the difference between the total arrest count and the number of people that DHS said had been convicted of or charged with crimes, according to reporting from WJLA. He also cited "frightening footage" of elderly women being taken from apartment buildings, workers chased in residential areas, parents separated from children, and reports of an individual suffering a broken neck during an arrest, as Baltimore News reported.

Moore was also quoted as saying, "Deploying untrained, unqualified and unaccountable agents to sweep through our communities and spread fear is not the way to address public safety" — the quote appearing in Baltimore News's report. Baltimore News also reported that Moore warned operations could harm the workforce, including by taking legal workers out of nursing homes and raising costs.

DHS Official Position and Sanctuary Policies

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin praised the operation and criticized sanctuary policies, calling them policies that put illegal immigrants over American safety. As carried by the Santa Clarita Valley Signal, 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." He also said, "The brave men and women of ICE are hard at work every single day getting these dangerous illegal aliens out of our country" and went on to list types of criminals arrested.

Patricia Hyde, acting assistant director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, said officers are "the best in the world at finding people who do not want to be located," as reported by multiple news accounts. She explained the operation's intent.

DHS said the arrests were carried out despite sanctuary policies across many counties, a point that aligns with Mullin's criticism. According to reports, a similar operation in Atlanta last month led to more than 1,200 arrests.

Analysts Question Selection Process

Despite the agency's emphasis, the operation has drawn scrutiny. Colleen Putzel Kavanaugh, an associate policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, said most arrested do not have criminal backgrounds, a claim reported by WJLA. She also noted questions remain about how people are selected and what to learn from these operations. She added that "sanctuary jurisdiction" does not have a universal definition.

Doug Gilmer, a former DHS official, said operations of that size can involve extensive coordination, and that local cooperation plays a role; without it, the job becomes harder and the public is at greater risk, as WJLA noted.

Next Steps

DHS said those arrested remain in ICE custody as deportation proceeds. Tom Homan, the border czar, recently stated that ICE arrests reached historic highs, with June numbers the highest in the agency's history, as quoted in the Santa Clarita Valley Signal. The operation's full outcome remains to be seen.