Federal immigration officers arrested more than 1,200 illegal immigrants in the Atlanta, Georgia area, including 720 who DHS said had been convicted of or charged with crimes.
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.
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"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.
The Department of Homeland Security announced online that the sweep, called "Operation Safe Community – Atlanta," focused on criminal illegal immigrants.
"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.
In July, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement recorded approximately 51,000 immigration arrests, which ICE said was its highest monthly total ever, surpassing the 43,000 arrests recorded in June.
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Charles said agents have adapted their tactics because of protests and what he described as efforts to interfere with arrests, including changes to how they track individuals in the country illegally.
"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.
Among those arrested, DHS identified a Mexican national with prior convictions for "conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine and driving while intoxicated."
DHS also identified an illegal immigrant from El Salvador with prior arrests for "domestic battery/family violence, cruelty to children, disorderly conduct and driving while intoxicated."
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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.
