A sweep targeting violent foreign gangs in Northern Virginia has netted 30 gang members and associates, most of whom are believed to be in the country illegally.

Most of the alleged gang members and associates in Northern Virginia were arrested on immigration violations, but Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say some have criminal pasts and are associated with dangerous gangs, including MS-13, Mexican Pride and Southside Locos.

The sweep was conducted Wednesday through Friday and was part of an ongoing nationwide crackdown, ICE officials said.

Nine of the alleged Northern Virginia gang members were arrested on criminal charges, including re-entry after deportation, assault, grand larceny and carrying a concealed weapon, according to ICE. Twenty-six face administrative immigration violations.

Of those arrested, 29 are foreign nationals who now face removal proceedings.

Several of those arrested have criminal pasts, authorities said.

One of them is Ismael Quintana Barrera, a 33-year-old Guatemalan national and accused MS-13 member. He was arrested in Falls Church for immigration violations. He has previously been convicted of assault, larceny and destruction of property.

And Juan Otero Navarro, 30, of Honduras, is an alleged member of MS-13 and was arrested in Reston on charges of illegal re-entry after deportation. ICE officials say his past includes convictions for weapons and property crimes.

"The individuals arrested in this operation were targeted because they were gang members and were of concern to law enforcement in Northern Virginia," said Scot Rittenberg, the deputy special agent in charge of ICE's office of Homeland Security Investigations.

"ICE will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to target and dismantle transnational gangs to rid our streets of the drugs and violence associated with the gangs," he said.

Ten of those arrested are from Honduras, seven are from El Salvador, nine are from Guatemala and three are from Mexico. One woman and 29 men were arrested. An ICE spokeswoman was asked to provide the names of those arrested who are facing criminal charges from the sweep, but she did not do so by press time.

">ebabay@washingtonexaminer.com