Federal agents arrested a man in Washington, D.C., who is in the country illegally and has a troubling history. The arrest happened on the National Mall, where a journalist from NBC Washington captured the scene on video. The man, identified as 36-year-old David Perez-Teofani from Mexico, tried to flee from the agents but was quickly detained.
Witnesses reported that Perez-Teofani yelled in Spanish, “I don’t owe anything! Please! I’m not a criminal! I work here! I want to be with my family!” as agents took him into custody. He has a previous arrest record, including charges from January 2024 for aggravated sexual assault of a child under 13 and indecent liberties with a child under 15. Those charges were later dropped.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed that Perez-Teofani has been deported from the U.S. before and has entered the country illegally at least three times. Following his arrest, he was placed into an SUV by federal agents.
The recent arrest is part of a broader strategy by the federal government to address crime in D.C. The Department of Homeland Security highlighted that Perez-Teofani’s arrest is part of a crackdown on crime in the capital, which has seen over 550 dangerous criminals removed from the streets. This effort has been linked to President Trump’s policies aimed at reducing crime and enforcing immigration laws.
The D.C. police were under federal control as of August 11, but a recent court-approved agreement restored some local command while keeping federal oversight. The White House has praised the results of this enforcement action, emphasizing that many of those arrested have been illegal immigrants involved in serious crimes.
In the ongoing efforts to enhance safety in the city, federal agents and D.C. police have arrested a significant number of individuals, with a notable percentage being undocumented immigrants. This incident reflects the administration’s focus on law enforcement and its impact on communities in the capital.
