U.S. Marshals capture more than 1,500 fugitives in 10 cities

The U.S. Marshals Service announced the arrests of 1,500 fugitives, including sex offenders, violent criminals, and self-identified gang members, in a 30-day operation across 10 cities.

The Department of Justice said in a press release Wednesday that Operation North Star was a "high-impact fugitive apprehension initiative aimed at combating violent crime in 10 cities with a significant number of homicides and shootings."

Law enforcement arrested fugitives in Baltimore, Chicago, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Memphis, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., all Democrat-run cities.

The DOJ said that many of those arrested were "wanted for the most serious, violent, and harmful offenses, including homicide, sexual assault, robbery, or aggravated assault." This includes 230 who were wanted for homicide and 131 who were wanted for sexual assault. 

"The Justice Department is committed to doing everything we can to protect our communities from violent crime and end the plague of gun violence," Attorney General Merrick B. Garland noted.

"Operation North Star was focused on areas where local law enforcement has seen a large number of homicides and shootings. By partnering with our local and state partners, we are able to hone in on the most dangerous criminals who cause the most harm. I am very proud to lead an agency that is always willing and ready to do the work necessary to quell the violence affecting so many of our cities," U.S. Marshals Service Director Ronald Davis said. 

Notable arrests from the operation include three suspects in a mass shooting last month in Philadelphia.