ARLINGTON, Va. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Tuesday that more than 1,300 people in the United States illegally were arrested in a two-week enforcement action across Virginia and Maryland, but the operation has drawn criticism from state leaders who say many detained people had no criminal records.
Scope of the operation
ICE described the effort as Operation Safe Community - Washington, D.C., a targeted operation that ran from Aug. 1 to Aug. 14. Federal officials reported that a total of 1,328 individuals were taken into custody during the sweep.
Of those detained, ICE said roughly 400 had either been charged with or convicted of crimes in the United States. The department named offenses connected to some of those cases, including sexual battery, kidnapping, robbery, murder, attempted murder and rape, and said that members of known criminal street gangs such as MS-13, the 18th Street Gang and Tren de Aragua were among those apprehended.
| Metric | Number |
|---|---|
| Total arrests | 1,328 |
| Arrested with U.S. criminal charges or convictions | ~400 |
| Arrested without noted criminal charges | ~928 |
State leaders respond
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, publicly criticized the operation at a Tuesday briefing, saying the federal response appeared aimed at creating fear rather than focusing enforcement where it is needed.
"What we have seen across the country and in parts of Virginia, is an aggressive effort to make arbitrary quotas and detain and terrorize immigrant families," Gov. Spanberger said. "To be very clear, if there is someone who has committed a crime, whether they have legal status or not, they should be arrested, and they should be prosecuted."
The governor added that the current federal approach seemed designed to "demonstrate some sort of strength of force" but did not always prioritize individuals suspected of recent criminal activity.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore also released a statement addressing the operation, saying federal enforcement that removes violent offenders from the streets and follows lawful procedures is appropriate. His statement emphasized public safety when law enforcement targets people with violent criminal histories.
What ICE says and what remains unclear
ICE officials highlighted arrests of people with violent criminal histories and gang affiliations. At the same time, the department acknowledged a large share of those detained did not have non-immigration criminal charges listed at the time of arrest.
That mix — people with prior or pending U.S. criminal cases alongside those detained solely on immigration grounds — is central to the debate over the operation's aims and methods. Critics say broad sweeps that include people with no criminal conviction can disrupt families, communities and local economies. Supporters argue they are necessary to address public-safety threats posed by people with serious criminal records.
- Duration: Two-week operation from Aug. 1–14.
- Arrests: 1,328 people in Virginia and Maryland.
- Known criminal cases: About 400 detained people were charged or convicted in the U.S.; nearly 1,000 had no recorded criminal charges beyond immigration allegations at the time of arrest.
Local impact and next steps
The arrests raise immediate questions for local governments, legal advocates and immigrant communities about due process, the handling of detainees and coordination between federal and state law enforcement. Civil-rights groups and immigration advocates typically monitor such operations for reports of family separations, access to counsel and possible misconduct.
House Democrats have launched an inquiry into alleged ICE misconduct related to other enforcement activities, and the results of that investigation could influence how federal operations are conducted and overseen going forward.
ICE did not provide a county-by-county breakdown of arrests in its announcement. Local officials and immigrant legal services organizations may release further information in the coming days as they track cases, confirm identities and offer assistance to detained individuals and their families.
Reporting from the scene continues as state and federal authorities, advocacy groups and elected officials respond to the fallout from Operation Safe Community.
