UPDATE: ICE retracts number of arrests in Portland during operation that claimed to target sanctuary cities

Federal immigration agents arrested 33 people in Portland during a four-day operation targeting sanctuary cities across the nation this week, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials said in a statement Thursday.

Nearly 500 people were arrested for federal immigration violations during the operation, officials said. The operation, which the agency dubbed "Operation Safe City," ended Wednesday.

Agents focused their attention on cities and regions where local law enforcement don't honor immigration detainers or share information with federal agents about people in the country illegally who face criminal charges.

The operation targeted people with prior criminal convictions, pending criminal charges and gang ties and those who re-entered the country after they were deported, ICE officials said. People who are in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program were not targeted, officials said.

ICE officials in Portland could not be reached Thursday night for comment or additional details about the operation.

ICE acting director Tom Homan said in a statement that agents targeted sanctuary cities because "non-cooperation policies" undermine public safety.

"Sanctuary jurisdictions that do not honor detainers or allow us access to jails and prisons are shielding criminal aliens from immigration enforcement and creating a magnet for illegal immigration," he said. "As a result, ICE is forced to dedicate more resources to conduct at-large arrests in these communities."

Multnomah County's policies against sharing information with immigration authorities were criticized in July after a man who had been deported 12 times allegedly attacked two women. The attack came days after the man, 31-year-old Sergio Martinez, was released from the county jail on charges of interfering with police. Federal leaders criticized the county jail for not notifying ICE agents before releasing Martinez after several arrests.

Here's a breakdown of people arrested in each region:

-Baltimore: 28

- Cook County, Illinois: 30

- Denver: 63

- Los Angeles: 101

- New York: 45

- Philadelphia: 107

- Portland: 33

- Santa Clara County, California: 27

- Washington, D.C.: 14

- Massachusetts: 50

Some of the people arrested will be federally prosecuted for alleged illegal entry and re-entry after removal, ICE officials said. Others will administratively processed for deportation.

— Samantha Matsumoto