Feds arrest more than 160 foreign nationals in northern Va. in 3-day immigration sweep

March 23, 2:37 PM

MANASSAS, Va. — More than 160 foreign nationals — most of them illegal immigrants with criminal records — were arrested in northern Virginia over a three-day enforcement surge involving federal, state and local police, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton said Wednesday.

The enforcement sweep, conducted between Sunday and Tuesday, ensnared men and women from 32 countries, including eight people who had been convicted of sex offenses.

Morton announced the arrests at a news conference in Manassas, where political leaders have faulted ICE for failing to enforce the nation’s immigration laws aggressively enough.

“We are dedicated to the removal of criminal offenders from our country,â€