SAN DIEGO, California — Federal immigration authorities arrested at least 160 illegal aliens over multiple days and across multiple states in what the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is calling “routine” immigration enforcement actions.
Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Gillian Christensen confirmed to the Washington Post that “routine” immigration enforcement actions were taken this week in Los Angeles, California; Atlanta, Georgia; and two other cities that were not identified. The enforcement actions took place at home and workplaces.

The spokesperson noted it was an unprecedented step to issue statements on such raids while they were ongoing, but fast-spreading social media commentary triggered the agency to comment in this case.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attested that 160 illegal aliens were arrested in the southern Californian region, including Los Angeles, according to NBC San Diego. The report stated that those with criminal histories and deportation orders were targeted over a five-day sweep.

The Post reported on Friday that federal immigration officials had declined to give numbers for how many arrests had been made. The report stated that “immigration activists” had documented “ICE raids” in at least six states as of Friday.