Federal immigration agents arrested dozens of people during early morning raids on Kauaʻi, with detainees later transported to a federal detention center on Oʻahu.
Authorities say six federal search warrants were executed at residences and one business on Kauaʻi.
Forty-four people were arrested, including two suspected associates of the foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (TdA), federal officials said. The Venezuelan gang has been targeted by the Trump administration.
Kauaʻi County Council member Fern Holland said raids took place in Kapa’a, Kalaheo and Lihu’e.
At 4 a.m., white law enforcement vehicles were seen outside a home on Kaʻapuni Street in Kapahi, a quiet neighborhood in Kapaʻa.
Holland said she heard at least two explosions as armed immigration agents entered the home.
The U.S. Coast Guard flew the detainees to Oʻahu, where they were taken in white vans to the Federal Detention Center near Honolulu’s airport.
Wednesday’s raids were conducted by Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S Coast Guard Investigative Service, Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S. Marshals Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Law Enforcement, ICE-Enforcement and Removal Operations, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigative Division, and other federal partners.
