Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has announced the results of the fourth phase of Operation North Star, a five-month initiative by the U.S. Marshals Service and law enforcement partners targeting dangerous fugitives and violent offenders in 10 metropolitan areas across the country.
Garland addressed two other significant issues before detailing the operation's results: actions against threats posed by Iran and marking one year since Hamas’s October 7 terrorist attack on Israel.
"Iran poses a grave threat to the national security of the United States," Garland stated. He emphasized ongoing efforts to track Iran’s plotting against U.S. officials, including former President Trump, and to disrupt Iran’s support for terrorist groups like Hamas and Hizballah.
Garland highlighted recent Iranian cyber activities aimed at influencing U.S. elections. "In August, the Intelligence Community reported an ongoing effort by Iran to compromise former President Trump’s campaign," he said. An indictment was unsealed charging three Iranian hackers with various crimes related to these activities.
He also touched upon Hamas's attack on Israel last year, which resulted in nearly 1,200 deaths, including more than 40 Americans. The Justice Department recently charged Yahya Sinwar and other senior Hamas leaders for their roles in these attacks.
On Operation North Star, Garland reported that from May to September this year, over 3,400 fugitives and violent offenders were arrested in cities such as Dallas-Fort Worth, Charleston, Baton Rouge, Little Rock, Phoenix, St. Louis, Birmingham, Winston-Salem, Dayton, and San Antonio. More than 500 firearms and over $500,000 in currency were seized along with significant quantities of illegal narcotics.
"We are deeply grateful to every Deputy U.S. Marshal...who carried out these arrests," Garland said. This operation follows previous iterations launched since 2022.
Garland concluded by emphasizing continued efforts against violent crime: "Our commitment...is not about statistics — it is about saving lives."
Marshals Service Director Ron Davis was invited to speak following Garland's remarks.