Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have conducted a major operation in Georgia, resulting in the arrest of over 1,200 illegal migrants. This targeted enforcement effort, named Operation Safe Community, aimed to remove individuals with prior criminal convictions. Marcos Charles, head of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, discussed the arrests on ‘Fox & Friends’, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to community safety despite calls to abolish ICE.
In the Atlanta area, federal immigration officers apprehended more than 1,200 illegal immigrants. Among them, 720 individuals were either convicted of or charged with crimes, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Charles highlighted that the operation removed violent criminals, including sex offenders and child abusers, from the streets.
“We arrested over 1,200 illegal aliens in the Atlanta area, with more than half having criminal histories,” Charles stated. “These crimes include sex offenses, assault, battery, DUI convictions, and domestic violence. Such individuals pose a threat not only because of their criminal actions but also due to their illegal presence in the United States.”
The DHS detailed the sweep, focusing on criminal activities involving illegal immigrants. “Every day, ICE ERO officers enforce immigration laws nationwide, contributing to community safety,” Charles explained. “We’ll continue these efforts across the United States.”
In July, ICE reported approximately 51,000 immigration arrests, marking the highest monthly total in the agency’s history, surpassing the previous record of 43,000 in June. This surge in arrests is attributed to the immigration push by the Trump administration.
Charles noted that ICE agents have adapted their tactics in response to protests and attempts to interfere with arrests. “We’ve integrated additional training and adjusted our enforcement and arrest methods,” he said. Among the arrested were individuals with serious prior convictions, such as a Mexican national involved in drug distribution and a Salvadoran immigrant with a history of domestic violence and cruelty to children.
This operation follows an alarming report from DHS on an 8,000% increase in death threats against ICE officers. Progressive lawmakers have expressed concerns about ICE’s enforcement actions, advocating for the agency’s abolishment.
Madison Colombo, a writer for Fox News Digital’s Flash, Media, and Culture team, contributed to this report.