ICE’s “Operation Safe Community – Atlanta” resulted in the arrest of 1,226 illegal alien offenders throughout Georgia.
Speaking on “Fox & Friends,” Marcos Charles, executive associate director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, said the sweep took violent criminals — including sex offenders and child abusers — off the streets.
“We arrested over 1,200 aliens, illegal aliens, out in the Atlanta, Georgia area. More than half of those people had criminal histories,” Charles said.
The operation netted illegal alien offenders with criminal histories that include sex crimes, crimes against children, aggravated assault, assault and battery, drug crimes, lewd and lascivious acts, burglary, weapons crimes, driving while intoxicated and more.
Charles continued with more specifics on the types of offenders removed.
“We’re talking about sex crimes, assault and battery, some with DUI convictions, domestic violence. These individuals needed to be taken off the street, not only because they’re criminals, but because they are here illegally in the United States,” he added.
Patricia Hyde, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Acting Assistant Director, said: “Our officers did what they do best: they arrested and removed dangerous criminal offenders from American communities.”
Hyde added that “every one of the illegal alien offenders apprehended during this operation was in violation of U.S. immigration law, but more than 700 of the aliens we arrested also have criminal histories in the United States.”
Among those arrested, authorities identified specific high-level offenders from multiple countries.
Fabian Pineda-Garcia, an illegal alien from Mexico, had prior criminal convictions for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine and driving while intoxicated.
Jose Felix Amaya-Pineda, an illegal alien from El Salvador, had prior criminal arrests for domestic battery/family violence, cruelty to children, disorderly conduct, and driving while intoxicated.
The operation included offenders from across Central America and beyond.
Elena Marin, an illegal alien from Romania, had prior criminal arrests for theft by deception and petit larceny.
Armando Loma-Cristo, an illegal alien from Mexico, had prior criminal arrests for DUI, supplying alcohol to underage persons, child endangerment, and driving without a valid license.
Charles discussed how ICE has adapted its enforcement methods as the agency faces increased scrutiny and opposition.
“Every day, the men and women of ICE ERO were out in the streets across the nation, enforcing the immigration laws as set forth by Congress. So we’re keeping the community safe. We’re [going to] be traveling all over the United States doing the same thing,” Charles said.
Charles explained that agents have changed their tactics in response to obstacles they face during operations.
“What we’ve done is we’ve adapted to that, not only with additional training, but we’ve adapted our methodology on how we conduct these enforcement efforts and our arrest methods,” he said.
The Department of Homeland Security announced online that the sweep, called “Operation Safe Community – Atlanta,” focused on criminal illegal immigrants.
The Georgia operation comes at a moment of record-breaking enforcement activity across the nation.
ICE made roughly 51,000 immigration arrests in July, setting the highest monthly total in agency history as Trump’s immigration crackdown reaches a new milestone.
The historic total came just one month after ICE set what was then a new monthly record with roughly 43,000 arrests in June, giving the agency back-to-back record-breaking months.
The operation comes months after DHS reported an 8,000% increase in death threats against ICE officers.
Some progressive lawmakers have also called for abolishing ICE over concerns about the agency’s enforcement operations.
In the viral moment that catalyzed the Georgia operation, illegal immigration and public safety had become intertwined in national politics following the death of college runner Laken Riley in Georgia, where an undocumented immigrant was charged. ICE and federal partners including the FBI, ATF, and DEA combined efforts to target what they described as criminal aliens across metro Atlanta. The operation spanned from Chamblee to Lilburn, making arrests along major thoroughfares like Buford Highway and in surrounding areas.
A total of 1,226 illegals were busted in the Peach State, including 720 charged or convicted of prior crimes in the U.S. Interestingly, five of the illegals were taken into custody at the address of a trucking company known for employing illegal aliens.
Charles’ next public appearance on immigration enforcement will occur as the Trump administration continues to escalate operations nationwide.