Throughout the course of last year's campaign, President Donald Trump repeatedly pledged to crack down on dangerous foreign criminals.

The latest sign of Trump making good on that promise came last week when it was announced that federal agents have made hundreds of arrests in New Jersey. 

One man accused of attempting to rape a 12-year-old girl

According to the New York Post, those arrests were part of a joint undertaking with state and local authorities known as "Operation Apex Hammer."

Among the 264 people taken into custody were two illegal migrants wanted for sex crimes. One was 54-year-old Guatemalan migrant Lorenzo Benitez, who faces multiple counts of sexual assault.

The other was 25-year-old Honduran national Darlin Franco-Guzman, who was wanted for burglary and the attempted sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl.

Also apprehended were 17 homicide individuals who have been accused of homicide along with 95 alleged gang members.

U.S. Marshal Juan Mattos Jr. and Acting U.S. Attorney Alina Habba were quoted as saying that Operation Apex Hammer represents "a major success in combating violent crime and restoring public safety."

Venezuelan "Anti-Tren" gang hit in takedown

News of Operation Apex Hammer's success came less than a week after Breitbart reported that an FBI task force had carried out the largest ever takedown aimed at "Anti-Tren," which is described as being an offshoot of the Venezuelan group Tren de Aragua (TdA).

FBI Makes ‘Largest Takedown‘ of Anti-Tren Gang Members in Texas Roundup https://t.co/kXXa8uuKN3

— BreitbartTexas (@BreitbartTexas) July 2, 2025

The president signed a proclamation earlier this year which designated TdA as a foreign terrorist organization, saying it is "conducting irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions against the United States."

Breitbart pointed to a U.S. Department of State official who explained Anti-Tren's criminal activities resemble those pursued by TdA.

"Similar to TdA, purposes of Anti-Tren allegedly include preserving and protecting the power and territory of the organization and its members and associates through attempted murder, other acts of violence, and threats of such," the official was quoted as stating.

Sixteen alleged gang members charged with drug and weapons offenses

A press release put out by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas heralded the capture of 16 alleged Anti-Tren members, who have been charged with narcotics and firearm offenses.

"These arrests are the largest takedown of suspected Anti-Tren members and associates by the FBI, so far, and they happened right here in Houston," FBI Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams noted.

"These individuals are accused of engaging in a turf war with TdA members and carrying out numerous violent crimes throughout our city, including a mass shooting at a local sports bar that left six people wounded," he stressed.