Federal immigration officers arrested 1,328 people across Virginia and Maryland in a two‑week enforcement push that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) disclosed only after it ended.
DHS said Monday the effort—titled Operation Safe Community, Washington, D.C.—ran Aug. 1–14. Fox News first reported the tally, citing federal sources who characterized the sweep as among the most successful the agency has run. Local outlet WJLA reported most activity centered on the Washington, D.C., suburbs, with additional arrests elsewhere in both states.
Who was detained, according to DHS
DHS said nearly 400 of those arrested had criminal convictions or open charges. Reported convictions included robbery, identity theft, hit‑and‑run, driving while intoxicated, kidnapping, and sexual battery. Arrest histories in the group included murder, attempted murder, and rape, according to DHS. The agency also said officers picked up members of MS‑13, the 18th Street Gang, and Tren de Aragua.
Named cases DHS highlighted
DHS identified several individuals by name:
- Eygner Wilfredo Huezo‑Moran, a Salvadoran wanted in Richmond on a murder warrant and a related firearms count, was taken into custody in Chesterfield by ICE officers working with U.S. Marshals. He was turned over to local authorities, and ICE filed a detainer to begin removal once his criminal case concludes, according to DHS.
- Actionel Pierre, a Haitian national taken into custody in Wicomico County, Maryland, previously faced charges of attempted murder, two counts of assault, carrying a dangerous weapon intended to cause harm, and reckless endangerment, DHS said. He remains in federal custody.
- Estrella Reyes‑Funez, from Honduras, was arrested in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and remains in federal custody. DHS said she has a felony hit‑and‑run conviction and prior arrests for allegedly threatening to set a fire or detonate an explosive, assault and battery involving a relative, and breaching a protective order.
What officials said
In a statement attributed in the source material to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, he credited officers for the results: “The brave men and women of ICE are hard at work every single day getting these dangerous illegal aliens out of our country. 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.”
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Acting Assistant Director Patricia Hyde attributed the operation’s results to tradecraft, saying, “Our officers are the best in the world at finding people who do not want to be located.”
A DHS social media post dated Aug. 24, 2026, stated: “The heroes of @ICEgov arrested OVER 1,300 illegal aliens in just two weeks in Maryland and Virginia. Illegal aliens have NO PLACE in our communities: we will hunt them down and REMOVE them.”
Sanctuary policies and 287(g) context cited in reporting
DHS said its officers secured arrests despite “sanctuary” rules covering numerous counties in both states. The source material states that Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger ended Virginia’s 287(g) agreements in February, which had allowed state corrections officers to transfer inmates to ICE.
Reactions to that decision, as reported by 7News at the time, included Republican Virginia House Leader Terry Kilgore’s claim: “She made Virginia a sanctuary state yesterday when she said we’re not cooperating with ICE.” In April, Spanberger rejected that label, saying, “Virginia is not a sanctuary state, full stop.”
