U.S. Marshals arrest 724 refugees in San Antonio during Operation North Star

SAN ANTONIO — U.S. Marshals arrested 3,421 fugitives during the final phase of Operation North Star in 2024, 724 of whom were arrested for crimes in San Antonio.

Investigators said they worked closely with local law enforcement in 10 cities across the country and gave priority to those who used firearms or violence to commit crimes.

In San Antonio, marshals were able to seize 100 firearms, more than $32,000 in federal dollars and more than 300 pounds of illegal drugs.

Across the country, they collected more than $500,000 and more than 1,000 pounds of illegal narcotics, including fentanyl.

San Antonio led the operation in the number of arrests, but officials say that doesn’t necessarily mean there is more crime in San Antonio.

“We actually got together (and) planned for several months and it had a big impact. “That doesn’t necessarily mean there was more crime in this city, just the amount of work and effort we put together, the collaboration, the hours and the manpower to make such a big impact,” said U.S. Marshal’s Western Texas Division Chief John Allen.

The ten cities where Operation North Star was conducted include San Antonio, Texas; Dallas, Texas; North Charleston, South Carolina; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Little Rock, Arkansas; Phoenix, Arizona; St. Louis, Missouri (including East St. Louis, Illinois); Birmingham, Ala.; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and Dayton, Ohio.