Operation to confront crime in the US results in the arrest of 1,500 fugitives

A 30-day police raid of sorts aimed at combating violent crime in major US cities has resulted in the arrest of more than 1,500 fugitives, including violent criminals, sex offenders and gang members, authorities announced Wednesday.

The initiative, called ‘Operation North Star’, was carried out by the US Marshals Service throughout the month of June and focused on 10 urban centers that have experienced a notable increase in the numbers of homicides and shootings in the last years.

The target cities were Baltimore, Chicago, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Memphis, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington DC.

Authorities said the operation was focused on fugitives wanted for serious and violent crimes, including homicide, sexual assault or robbery.

“The Justice Department is committed to doing everything we can to protect our communities from violent crime and thus end the scourge of gun violence,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said at a briefing on Thursday. the Justice Department on Wednesday.

“’Operation North Star’ reflects the approach we are taking across the department to work in partnership with law enforcement and communities to identify those responsible for the escalating violence,” Garland said.

US Marshals Service Director Ronald Davis said the operation “focused on the most dangerous criminals causing the most harm.”

Law enforcement officials and criminologists say such targeted arrests can be part of an effective crime-fighting strategy, because most gun violence is often committed by a small number of repeat criminals.

In the nation’s capital, for example, a recent study found that just a couple hundred people were responsible for 60% to 70% of all gun violence in the city.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) assist in the operation. All three are components of the Department of Justice.

Homicides and shootings have increased in the United States in the past two years, exacerbated by trends related to the pandemic and other factors.

Last year, the number of homicides in 22 major US cities increased 5% compared to 2021 and 44% compared to 2019, according to the nonpartisan Council on Criminal Justice.

Violence tends to increase during the summer. While the overall violent crime rate remains high, several major cities — including New York, Chicago and Indianapolis — have reported up to a 10% drop in homicides so far this year.

Despite the recent increase, violent crime in the US remains substantially lower than it was at its peak in the 1990s.

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