ICE Arrests Nearly 1,400 Criminal Aliens in Houston

HOUSTON, Texas – In June, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers apprehended close to 1,400 criminal aliens in the Houston area. Authorities indicated that among those arrested were 32 individuals accused of child exploitation, nine murderers, a person previously convicted of airplane hijacking, and 16 members affiliated with gangs or drug cartels.

Information reviewed recently showed that during ice enforcement and removal operations, officers from the Houston Field office arrested 1,361 criminal aliens just in June. These individuals had been convicted or charged with crimes committed after they unlawfully entered the U.S. Officials reported that out of the total, 32 were found guilty of sexual offenses against minors, nine were implicated in murder-related crimes, and 16 were identified as gang or cartel members. Interestingly, one convict had a record of hijacking a plane bound for Key West, Florida.

“Despite some attempts to undermine our mission with false accusations, the dedicated ICE agents are working around the clock to target dangerous criminal aliens, aiming to restore integrity to our immigration system and enhance public safety,” a spokesperson mentioned. The number of criminals removed from southeastern Texas last month was cited as an example of the agency’s commitment to maintaining safe environments for families, free from threats posed by child predators or gang violence.

The June arrests marked an increase from May, when 1,249 criminal aliens were detained in the Houston area, according to internal sources.

Some notable arrests from June include:

• Adermis Wilson-Gonzalez, a 56-year-old from Cuba, apprehended on June 29 for a hijacking conviction dating back to 2003.
• Arnulfo Olivares Cervantes, a 47-year-old former gang member from Mexico, arrested on June 13 after multiple drug trafficking offenses.
• Luis Pablo Vazquez Estrano, a 29-year-old deported criminal from Mexico, detained on June 10, with past convictions for murder and robbery.
• Jose Meza, a 40-year-old from Mexico, arrested on June 24 after illegally entering the U.S. multiple times and committing sexual assault.
• Javier Escobar Gonzalez, a 51-year-old criminal from Mexico, taken into custody on June 23 for various offenses, including driving under the influence.

It was also noted that gang and cartel members arrested included groups like Tren de Aragua, MS-13, and Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG), which the U.S. State Department regards as foreign terrorist organizations.

Sources indicated that last year, Houston led the nation in the percentage of criminal alien arrests, with about 90% of the apprehensions being of individuals with criminal backgrounds.