ICE arrested 1,328 people illegally in the country over just 14 days in Virginia and Maryland.
Fox News reporter Bill Melugin broke the story on X, citing a direct briefing from the Department of Homeland Security. DHS told Fox News the operation ranks among the most successful in ICE agency history.
The sweep covered a two-week span and focused on suburban jurisdictions surrounding Washington, D.C., many of which operate as sanctuary zones, meaning local authorities limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
According to the original report, ICE agents arrested anyone present in the country illegally, regardless of whether they had a criminal history.
Nearly 400 of those arrested had either prior criminal convictions or pending criminal charges. Among them was a Salvadoran national identified as Eygner Wilfredo Huezo-Moran, who was wanted by Richmond, Virginia police on a murder warrant at the time of his arrest.
Other individuals taken into custody had records involving attempted murder, rape, sexual battery, kidnapping, robbery, and driving while intoxicated. The range of offenses covered both violent felonies and serious misdemeanors.
The operation unfolded quietly, with DHS not publicizing it until Melugin reported the details. ICE confirmed the results only after the 14-day campaign had concluded.
The DC-area operation is part of a broader enforcement push under the Trump administration. Melugin also reported that ICE and DHS recorded more than 27,000 deportations in a single week during this same period, a figure the administration has pointed to as evidence that its deportation agenda is gaining momentum.
Virginia and Maryland were chosen specifically because their suburban counties near the capital have declared themselves sanctuary jurisdictions. Federal officials have made clear that sanctuary policies do not shield individuals from federal immigration enforcement, and this operation appeared designed to underscore that position.
The 1,328 arrests over 14 days represent a significant single-operation number for the agency. DHS shared the results exclusively with Fox News before any public announcement, describing it internally as one of the most consequential operations in ICE history.
No details about how many of those arrested have been deported, released, or are awaiting immigration proceedings were included in the initial report.