U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi reported on Thursday that the total number of arrests for the Safe Memphis Task Force continued to grow on its third day of deployment to the city, with 40 alone arrested on Wednesday.
Bondi wrote in an update posted to X, “In just 72 hours, our Memphis Safe Task Force is making an incredible impact in this iconic American city.”
According to the attorney general, the 40 arrests made on Wednesday included a member of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua (TdA), which the Trump administration classified as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) earlier this year.
Others arrested by federal law enforcement included a man accused of child rape, an individual arrested for assaulting an officer, and a felon found in possession of a firearm, Bondi wrote.
“To date, there have been 93 arrests and 28 illegal guns seized. Our work is saving lives,” said the attorney general. “My message to law enforcement is simple: we have your back!”
In just 72 hours, our Memphis Safe Task Force is making an incredible impact in this iconic American city.
Yesterday 40 arrests were made including a Tren de Aragua terrorist, a felon in possession of a firearm, a man wanted for rape of a child, and an arrest for assault on a… pic.twitter.com/M9JHJACvh3
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) October 2, 2025
The numbers compare to those announced for Tuesday, when Bondi announced the task force had made 44 arrests. During the first day of deployment, just nine arrests were made.
Bondi’s latest update came after National Guard troops joined the deployment, with previous arrests completed by federal law enforcement agencies. The attorney general reported earlier this week that more than 200 federal agents had been deputized to perform law enforcement duties in Memphis.
It also follows the remarks by multiple members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet in Memphis on Tuesday.
“We are about to provide you with a level of support you cannot even imagine,” said White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller while in Memphis. “This isn’t just a task force, this is an all-of-government, unlimited support operation,” he added, “and they’re not going to be sitting behind a desk at a keyboard.”
In return for support from local police officers, Miller stated, “I pledge to you, we will liberate this city from the criminal element that has plagued it for generations.”
.@StephenM to Memphis Police: "The idea that there is a square inch of block in this city where a citizen doesn't feel safe is unacceptable. This is Memphis. This is the United States of America — and all that bullshit is DONE. It's over. It's finished." 🔥 pic.twitter.com/cBcb0XBKaV
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 1, 2025
Memphis Mayor Paul Young maintained during the press conference that he did not request the federal assistance for the city, but that he views the task force’s presence as an opportunity to expand on previous public safety initiatives.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
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