Federal agents arrest 189 people in Trump's D.C. immigration crackdown
Federal authorities arrested 189 people in D.C. last week in a sweeping, multi-agency immigration crackdown — part of a broader effort under President Trump's new "Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful" directive.
The big picture: It's the first major move since Trump's March executive order established a federal task force to crack down on crime, clear homeless encampments, and "maximize immigration enforcement."
State of play: The sweep began last Tuesday. It was carried out by at least six federal agencies, according to the Department of Justice, ranging from ICE and Homeland Security to ATF and Diplomatic Security Service.
It's unclear where arrests were made. The crackdown coincided with ICE activity at restaurants across the city, where agents served around 100 local businesses with inspection orders to provide I-9 employment eligibility papers.
Friction point: The DOJ said in its initial press release that D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department was involved in the crackdown. But the release was later revised to remove MPD.
Mayor Bowser's spokesperson Susana Castillo told Axios MPD was not involved in the operation.
When ICE activity began last week, Bowser told news outlets, "It appears that ICE is at restaurants or even in neighborhoods, and it doesn't look like they're targeting criminals, and so it is disrupting." She clarified: "No MPD activity involved."
What they're saying: In a Tuesday press conference, U.S. Attorney Ed Martin estimated that nearly a dozen of those arrested had criminal records, but "most of them are administrative."
The DOJ alleges that at least four of the individuals arrested have lengthy criminal histories ranging from drug possession to assault, and cites "gang-affiliated tattoos" in one instance.
The agency didn't respond to Axios' requests for records proving criminal activity.
Between the lines: Critics say many immigration sweeps aren't targeting criminals. A recent 60 Minutes investigation found that three-fourths of Venezuelan migrants flown to a notorious El Salvador prison had no known record.
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