Within the first half of the Trump administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Houston apprehended over 350 illegal immigrant gang members. This group of violent offenders has accumulated nearly 1,700 criminal convictions.
ICE reported that foreign gang members made 1,434 illegal entries into the U.S., with one individual noted for having entered the country 40 times. This information was shared by Texas’ Breitbart, sourced from the Houston Enforcement and Removal Operations team. Those arrested included individuals with convictions for murder, child exploitation, burglary, and arson.
The agency emphasized its focus on targeting the most dangerous illegal immigrants in major urban areas. They’ve actively promoted these arrests through social media and press releases about notorious criminals.
Gabriel Martinez, the field office director for ICE in Houston, remarked on the arrests, stating that while some may downplay the work of their agents, these “brave men and women” risk their lives daily to apprehend dangerous gang members and criminals from abroad. He underscored the serious threat posed by these gang members, sharing a chilling incident in Houston where some were linked to the tragic death of a 12-year-old girl.
In the past six months, here are some notable gang members apprehended by ICE in Houston:
- Milton Alexander Magana Fuentes, a 31-year-old child predator from the Paisas gang, was arrested on July 2. He illegally entered the U.S. four times and has a record including sexual indecency with a child and illegal entry.
- Ronald Alberto Rivas Aguiler, a 28-year-old MS-13 gang member from El Salvador, was taken into custody on July 21.
- Hunberto Romero Avila, 45, also a Paisas gang member from Mexico, was arrested on January 31. He entered the U.S. illegally ten times and has numerous convictions, including DWIs and theft.
- Jonathan Josue Valle Morales, a 31-year-old MS-13 member from El Salvador, was arrested on February 24. He was found guilty of illegal possession of a firearm and charged with murder shortly after.
- Jose Angel Martinez, a 39-year-old child predator and part of the Paisas gang, was arrested on May 7. His criminal history includes multiple illegal entries and charges related to assault and robbery.
- Gerald Ortega Contrera, 43, a deported Tango Blast gang member, was apprehended on June 26. He has a record of multiple evasion and assault crimes.
- Jose Pizzano Tierrablanca, a 33-year-old Surenos-13 gang member, was arrested on April 8 for illegally entering the U.S. and related offenses.
- Samuel Valenzuela Martinez, a 55-year-old Paisas gang member, was taken into custody on July 7 and has faced multiple charges over the years.
The gang members apprehended were affiliated with more than 40 different criminal organizations, including 39 from MS-13, 25 from the Venezuelan Trender Lagua gang, 159 from Paisas, and others. Additionally, the gang representation included notable names like the Latin King and 15th Street gang.
ICE outlined that the total of 1,685 criminal convictions spanned various serious offenses such as assault, murder, sexual crimes, child exploitation, robbery, and more.
