More than 1,300 arrested in D.C.-area immigration sweep, including two from Manassas

Two Manassas men were among 1,328 people arrested across Virginia and Maryland during a recent two-week immigration enforcement operation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security.

The arrests, dubbed "Operation Safe Community – Washington, D.C.," took place from Aug. 1 to Aug. 14 and targeted immigrants in the country illegally with histories of serious criminal charges, DHS said in a news release.

Among the arrests were four men living in Northern Virginia according to DHS:

German Mejia-Baires of Manassas, an alleged MS-13 gang member with convictions for driving while intoxicated, driving on a suspended license and re-entry, along with arrests for felony malicious wounding and shoplifting.

Julio Hector Carranza-Rojano of Manassas who has prior convictions for sexual battery, driving while intoxicated, and hit-and-run.

Angel Gabriel Ortiz-Hernandez of Alexandria, who faces arrests for rape of a mentally incapacitated victim and two counts of aggravated sexual battery of an incapacitated victim.

Rowan Andrew Brown of Alexandria, whose record includes convictions for identity theft, kidnapping, and illegal re-entry, as well as an arrest for fraud.

The operation, which spanned both states and involved support from agencies such as the U.S. Marshals, resulted in 1,328 total arrests, the news release said.

According to federal officials, nearly 400 of those detained have been previously convicted or charged with crimes in the U.S. Those arrested remain in federal custody pending removal proceedings.