PUSHBACK

ICE Denies It’ll Carry Out Reported Massive Roundup Operation

The agency was reportedly planning to round up 8,400 undocumented immigrants.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is pushing back on reports that it is planning a massive roundup operation targeting undocumented immigrants. NBC News reported on Thursday that the agency plans to carry out raids—known as “Operation Mega”—to apprehend 8,400 people later this month, but ICE said in a statement: “There is currently no coordinated nationwide operation planned at this time.” The agency cited Hurricane Irma’s impending landfall in Florida and the cleanup efforts in Texas following Hurricane Harvey. “The priority in the affected areas should remain focused on life-saving and life-sustaining activities,” the statement reads, adding that “routine operations” will continue.