President Donald Trump's Department of Homeland Security had planned nationwide raids to target 8,400 undocumented immigrants later this month but then canceled them, according to three law enforcement officials and an internal document that described the plan as "the largest operation of its kind in the history" of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
But after NBC News reported the plans late Thursday, the agency issued a statement saying it had canceled them due to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
"Operational plans are subject to change based on a variety of factors," ICE spokesman Sarah Rodriguez said in a statement. "There is currently no coordinated nationwide operation planned at this time. The priority in the affected areas should remain focused on life-saving and life-sustaining activities."
The raids were scheduled over five days beginning Sept. 17 and deemed "Operation Mega," according to an internal document.
