Nearly 200 illegal immigrants were arrested last week during a federal enforcement push focused on criminal activity and gang presence in Washington, D.C. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed 189 arrests over a four-day span between May 6 and May 9.

The effort was aimed at criminal offenders, including individuals linked to transnational gangs like MS-13, Tren de Aragua, and 18th Street. According to ICE, agents also served notices of inspection to 187 area businesses during the operation, verifying I-9 forms to ensure employees were legally authorized to work.

Russell Hott, who leads ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) for the D.C. field office, called the results of the operation a significant win for public safety.
“The District of Columbia is exponentially safer today because of countless hours of investigative work and dedication to duty displayed by ICE Washington, D.C. and our law enforcement partners,” Hott said.

“Throughout this enhanced enforcement operation, we targeted the most dangerous alien offenders in some of the most crime-infested neighborhoods in the city of Washington, D.C. Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid,” he continued. “ICE Washington, D.C. remains dedicated to our mission of prioritizing public safety by arresting and removing criminal offenders from our nation’s capital and surrounding communities.”

Federal agents carried out the operation with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, the ATF, the DEA, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C., the Virginia Department of Corrections, and the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service.

ICE noted that some of those apprehended had previously been released by local jurisdictions that did not honor immigration detainers.

Among those arrested, ICE highlighted two cases: “a 47-year-old illegally present Guatemalan alien whose criminal history includes drug possession, illegal reentry, aggravated assault, trespassing, disorderly conduct and sexual assault” and “a 25-year-old illegally present Guatemalan alien whose criminal history includes threat to kidnap, attempted possession of a prohibited weapon, threats to bodily harm and simple assault.”

Interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Ed Martin praised the multi-agency effort and tied it to broader national goals.

“Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and this administration’s focus on law and order, these arrests mark a major step toward making Washington, D.C., safer for law-abiding citizens and their families,” Martin said. “They send a clear message: violating our nation’s immigration laws will not be ignored.”

Fox5 DC reported that the operation included visits to local restaurants and other establishments as part of employment verification efforts.

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser had previously expressed concern over the actions by ICE, saying she was “disturbed” by reports of arrests taking place in neighborhoods and restaurants.

“It appears as though ICE is at restaurants, or even at neighborhoods, and it doesn’t look like they’re targeting criminals, and it does look like they’re disrupting,” Bowser said, according to Fox.

Her office did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.