ICE Arrests Man in Falls Church Among 82 in Five-Day Operation

FALLS CHURCH, VA -- In a five-day operation of arrests, ICE arrested a 50-year-old man in Falls Church on March 26.

ICE said the man was a second lieutenant in command of Somalia's National Security Service, the intelligence agency during the regime of Siad Barre, a dictator overthrown in 1991. He also has a felony drug conviction, according to ICE.

ICE arrested two individuals with ties to the MS-13 gang, which media reports have linked to recent gang-related crimes.

Arrests included individuals from 26 countries. The majority of arrests took place in Virginia, while two were in D.C. and one in Maryland. Other notable arrests in Virginia include:

• A 22-year-old citizen and national of Honduras was arrested in Fairfax, Va. March 29. ICE said he has felony convictions for stolen goods and grand larceny.
• A 40-year-old man from Trinidad and Tobago was arrested in Norfolk, Va. March 26. ICE said he has felony drug distribution and firearm possession convictions.
• A 45-year-old man from the Dominican Republic was arrested in Chesterfield, Va. March 28. ICE said he has felony convictions for sale of a cocaine and attempted robbery.
• A 34-year-old from El Salvador was arrested in Chesterfield, Va. March 29. ICE said the individual was arrested for being a documented MS-13 gang member and was previously removed from the United States in 2006.
• A 57-year-old woman from Honduras was arrested in Richmond, Virginia March 30. ICE said she has felony convictions for grand larceny and inflicting corporal injury to spouse.

According to ICE, individuals with outstanding deportation orders or who illegally returned to the U.S. after being deported can be immediately removed from the U.S. Others will remain in custody pending a hearing or travel arrangements. for deportation.

The Washington Post reported that President Trump's promise to crack down on illegal immigration has led to greater scrutiny of immigration enforcement, although the Obama administration carried out similar operations.

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