ICE Operation Safe Community – Washington, D.C. Arrests More Than 1,300 Illegal Aliens Throughout Virginia, Maryland

The two-week immigration enforcement operation resulted in 1,328 illegal aliens arrested

WASHINGTON - The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after an enhanced immigration enforcement operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) throughout the states of Virginia and Maryland resulted in the arrests of 1,328 illegal alien offenders between August 1 and August 14.

Titled "Operation Safe Community - Washington, D.C.", the two-week immigration enforcement operation netted illegal alien offenders with criminal histories that include convictions for sexual battery, kidnapping, driving while intoxicated, hit-and-run, identity theft, and robbery, and arrests for murder, attempted murder, and rape.

"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," said DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. "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."

"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 Acting 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."

While much of the operation was focused on arresting illegal alien offenders in the Washington, D.C. suburbs of Virginia and Maryland, ICE officers conducted targeted immigration enforcement actions throughout the entirety of the two states.

Operation Safe Community - Washington, D.C. closely follows Operation Safe Community - Atlanta in July, where ICE officers arrested more than 1,200 illegal alien offenders throughout the state of Georgia.

Of the 1,328 illegal aliens arrested, almost 400 have either been convicted or charged with crimes in the United States. ICE officers made these arrests despite the sanctuary policies of many of the counties throughout Virginia and Maryland.

Additionally, ICE officers arrested many members of trans-national criminal street gangs like MS-13, 18th Street Gang, and Tren de Aragua.

Operation Safe Community - Washington, D.C. displays Secretary Mullin's commitment to arresting and deporting illegal aliens from American communities and is in keeping with President Trump's promise to make America safe again.

Among those arrested by ICE officers during Operation Safe Community - Washington, D.C. are:

Eygner Wilfredo Huezo-Moran, a criminal illegal alien from El Salvador, who has a warrant for murder and use of a firearm in the commission of murder in Richmond, Virginia. ICE officers and U.S. Marshals arrested him in Chesterfield, Virginia and turned him over to local authorities to face criminal charges. ICE lodged an immigration detainer against Huezo-Moran and will initiate removal proceedings, pending completion of his criminal proceedings.

Actionel Pierre, a criminal illegal alien from Haiti, whose criminal history includes arrests for attempted murder, two counts of assault, possession of a dangerous weapon with intent to injure, and reckless endangerment. ICE officers arrested Pierre in Wicomico County, Maryland. Pierre will remain in ICE custody pending his removal from the United States.

Estrella Reyes-Funez, a criminal illegal alien from Honduras, whose criminal history includes a conviction for felony hit-and-run and arrests for making a threat to bomb or burn, assault and battery on a family member, and violating a protective order. ICE officers arrested Reyes-Funez in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Reyes-Funez will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

German Mejia-Baires, a criminal illegal alien and MS-13 gang member from El Salvador, whose criminal history includes convictions for driving while intoxicated, driving on a suspended license, and illegal re-entry, and arrests for felony malicious wounding and shoplifting. ICE officers arrested Mejia-Baires in Manassas, Virginia. Mejia-Baires will remain in ICE custody pending removal from the United States.

Mauricio Antonio Barrera-Navidad, a criminal illegal alien and MS-13 gang member from El Salvador, whose criminal history in El Salvador includes robbery, use and illegal possession of firearms, two counts of illicit association with illegal group (MS-13), and disorders and resistance. ICE officers arrested Barrera-Navidad in Hyattsville, Maryland. Barrera-Navidad will remain in ICE custody pending his removal from the United States.

Angel Gabriel Ortiz-Hernandez, a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala, whose criminal history includes arrests for rape of a mentally incapacitated victim and TWO counts of aggravated sexual battery of an incapacitated victim. ICE officers arrested Ortiz-Hernandez in Alexandria, Virginia. Ortiz-Hernandez will remain in ICE custody pending removal from the United States.

Rowan Andrew Brown, a criminal illegal alien from Jamaica, whose criminal history includes convictions for identity theft, kidnapping adult, and illegal re-entry, and an arrest for fraud. ICE officers arrested Brown in Alexandria, Virginia. Brown will remain in ICE custody pending removal from the United States.

Ronaldo Ronel Perez-Perez, a criminal illegal alien from Guatemala, whose criminal history includes convictions for TWO counts of driving while intoxicated, hit-and-run, and illegal re-entry, and an arrest for object sexual penetration by force. ICE officers arrested Perez-Perez in Richmond, Virginia. Perez-Perez will remain in ICE custody pending his removal from the United States.

Julio Hector Carranza-Rojano, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, whose criminal history includes convictions for sexual battery, driving while intoxicated, and hit-and-run. ICE officers arrested Carranza-Rojano in Manassas, Virginia. Carranza-Rojano will remain in ICE custody pending his removal from the United States.

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