The U.S. Marshal’s Office in Massachusetts is marking the nation’s 250th birthday by working with local law enforcement to aggressively arrest accused violent criminal offenders.

The Marshal’s Office says its working with state and local police on an effort it calls “Operation 250th.” That’s described as an initiative to ” apprehend 250 violent offenders this summer” in honor of the nation’s 250th birthday.

Since the operation began in May, 110 people have been taken into custody. Acting U.S. Marshal for Massachusetts Dennis Matulewicz said the effort is focused on violent offenders with outstanding warrants who are accused of crimes connected to Massachusetts.

“In order to be able to live in freedom you have to be able to live without fear of being harmed by other people,” Matulewicz said. “That’s why we’re after violent fugitives — the warrants have already been issued for their arrests.”

Matulewicz, designated by the U.S. Attorney General as acting U.S. Marshal for Massachusetts in January, said the idea to set a goal of arresting 250 people to mark the nation’s birthday was brought up in his office and he enthusiastically agreed.

“This was not directed by headquarters by any means,” Matulewicz said.” It was a way to honor the birthday — make communities safer while having a target to reach.”

He said the focus of the operation is on violent offenders. Some examples of those arrested so far include a man in Brighton charged with murdering a teen in Allston  and the arrest of a man for a murder in Lawrence last year.

The operation includes officers from the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force,  the Massachusetts State Police, and local police from Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and Haverhill and other communities.

Matulewicz expects the operation to exceed its goal of 250 arrests before it ends in September.