WASHINGTON, D.C. — The White House posted a photoshopped image to its official X account on August 25, 2026. The image depicted the school bus from the PBS animated series “The Magic School Bus” with the text “The Magic Deportation Bus.”

The graphic included characters Ms. Valerie Frizzle and Liz Ard alongside five individuals described as illegal immigrants. The post linked to an article regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests in the Washington area. “The Magic School Bus” was broadcast on PBS from September 1994 to October 1997.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested 1,328 individuals in Virginia and Maryland during the first 14 days of August 2026. Approximately 400 of those arrested had criminal convictions or pending criminal charges. Charges among those arrested included murder warrants, attempted murder, rape, sexual assault, kidnapping, and robbery. ICE officers arrested alleged members of MS-13, Tren de Aragua, and the 18th Street Gang.

The enforcement push was titled Operation Safe Community. Washington, D.C. Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger scrapped Virginia’s 287(g) agreements in February, ending arrangements that had state corrections officers transfer inmates to ICE. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin credited officers for the numbers.

“The brave men and women of ICE are hard at work every single day getting these dangerous illegal aliens out of our country,” Mullin said. He added that over the course of just two weeks in Virginia and Maryland, they arrested sexual assailants, kidnappers, drunk drivers, robbers, and gang members.

“While sanctuary politicians in Virginia and Maryland keep putting the needs of illegal aliens over the safety of the American people, the Trump Administration will always put American citizens first,” Mullin said. He stated that by arresting and removing illegal aliens from communities, the administration would make America safe again.

Patricia Hyde, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Acting Assistant Director, commented on the operation's execution. “Our officers are the best in the world at finding people who do not want to be located,” Hyde said. She added that is exactly what they did throughout this operation.

Hyde said removing these criminal alien offenders from Virginia and Maryland neighborhoods makes for much safer communities, and that is exactly what the men and women of ICE work to accomplish every day across the great nation. The Department of Homeland Security stated that all arrested individuals remain in ICE custody pending removal from the U.S.

Why It Matters

The White House post connects a satirical image to a large-scale federal enforcement action in states with differing immigration policies. The operation resulted in the arrest of 1,328 individuals, a figure cited in official records and media reports. The administration frames these arrests as a prioritization of citizen safety over the policies of local jurisdictions.

The scale of the operation shows the ongoing tension between federal immigration enforcement and state-level decisions. Virginia's recent termination of 287(g) agreements contrasts with the federal push to remove individuals with criminal records. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that those taken into custody face removal proceedings.

What's New

The official record states that 1,328 illegal aliens were arrested during the two-week immigration enforcement operation in Virginia and Maryland. The 1,328 individuals arrested by ICE in Maryland and Virginia during the two-week operation were directly affected, as they were taken into custody and subjected to removal proceedings. The relevant number is 1,328 individuals arrested by ICE in Maryland and Virginia during the two-week operation, which is a specific figure from the official record.