U.S. Marshals arrest more than 800 fugitives in crackdown on violent crime

The Department of Justice announced on Monday that the U.S. Marshals had arrested 833 individuals as part of Operation North Star II, a month-long crackdown against violent crime in 10 cities with high homicide rates.

"This 30-day initiative resulted in the arrest of 833 fugitives, violent criminals, sex offenders, and self-identified gang members in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Buffalo, New York; Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Jackson, Mississippi; Kansas City, Missouri; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Oakland, California; and Puerto Rico," the DOJ press release stated.

Attorney General Merrick Garland celebrated the results, saying they "should make clear that the Justice Department and our partners across the country will stop at nothing to find and bring to justice those responsible for violent crime... The U.S. Marshals Service, and the entire Justice Department, will continue to work in partnership with community leaders and law enforcement professionals nationwide to protect our communities."

Among those arrested were 95 individuals wanted for homicide and 68 for sexual assault. Law enforcement also recovered 181 firearms, more than 160 kilograms of illegal drugs, and more than $229,000.

Violent crime has increasingly become a concern to American voters. New York Republican Lee Zeldin campaigned heavily on the issue during the 2022 gubernatorial contest and, though he failed to win the state's top job, Republicans gave their strongest electoral performance statewide in recent years.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.