ICE Operation in Southeast Texas Results in Over 1,500 Arrests

HOUSTON, Texas — In response to increasing public pressure for immigration enforcement, ICE Houston launched a significant 10-day operation throughout Southeast Texas, apprehending 1,505 individuals identified as illegal aliens. This group included gang members, child sex offenders, and those with outstanding warrants. Notably, among those arrested was a member of the Mexican mafia wanted for murder and rape, a Paisa gang member with a record of violence and multiple deportations, and five child predators who had previously been living in American communities without consequence. Breitbart Texas accompanied ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) agents during the immigration enforcement initiative.

ICE officials emphasized that this decisive action conveys a strong message: foreign criminals will no longer find safety in the U.S. because of their illegal status. During a discussion with Larry Adams, Acting Deputy Director of the Houston ICE Field Office, he elaborated on an innovative law enforcement strategy aimed at high-crime areas across several Texas counties. The operation, which began on the night of October 25th, prioritized locating criminal aliens in public spaces. Adams indicated that future operations might uncover even more individuals involved in offenses like drug possession and drunk driving.

During this extensive operation, over 1,500 criminal aliens were taken into custody, almost doubling the previous record of 822 arrests set in August. Earlier in March, another ICE operation arrested 543 individuals.

The October enforcement efforts led to the arrest of 17 documented gang members, 40 aggravated felons, one convicted murderer, 13 sex offenders, and numerous others charged with various violent and drug-related offenses. Among them were 255 individuals who had entered the U.S. illegally following deportation and had committed felonies.

Brett Bradford, the Director of the Houston Field Office, praised the dedication of the officers involved. He mentioned the increasingly perilous conditions they face, fueled by violent political discourse and rampant misinformation, yet they persevere to capture dangerous individuals who threaten public safety in Southeast Texas. His remarks included a specific case of a previously deported Mexican mafia member known for serious crimes, stating that such individuals would no longer be free to endanger the community.

Bradford remarked, “Thanks to their focused commitment to safeguarding this community from criminal aliens, we’ve ensured that individuals like this are off the streets.”

He also noted that all involved in the operation volunteered to participate, taking on extra shifts to contribute to the nighttime enforcement initiative. “They returned to work after their regular hours on that Saturday night,” he shared.

Examples of some arrests include:

• Selvin Joel Lara Diaz, a 35-year-old deported child predator and Mexican mafia gang member, convicted of raping and impregnating his underage sister, captured by ICE after hiding in a grocery store.
• Marlon Odile Gómez Hernandez, a 29-year-old alleged MS-13 gang member from El Salvador, apprehended after attempting to escape into a local laundry facility.
• Salvador Ramirez-Carrillo, a 46-year-old Paisas gang member with a history of violent crime, arrested in a previous deportation case.
• Ronnie Andy Martinez-Lopez, a 27-year-old Honduran man with convictions for lewd acts involving a minor.
• Vongpachan Fotisam, a 53-year-old Laotian national found guilty of sexually exploiting a minor.
• Ray David Bautista-Antonio, a 27-year-old Mexican man arrested for multiple DUI offenses.

According to ICE, almost a third of those taken into custody had already been ordered deported. For those without a removal order, the agency plans to process them through immigration proceedings.

The crackdown aligns with the Trump administration’s initiative for a comprehensive approach towards large-scale deportations, involving various state and federal law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the FBI, among others.

Reflecting on the operation’s outcomes, Bradford stated, “While it’s impossible to prevent all future crimes, we can confidently say that this action has potentially saved lives and spared many Houstonians from the trauma that often follows violent crime.”