ICE Arrests Highlight Criminal Backgrounds in Houston
HOUSTON, Texas — Recently, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported that 735 undocumented individuals were arrested in the Houston area last month, tallying over 1,700 convictions. Remarkably, nearly 1,200 of these convictions were tied to violent crimes or threats to public safety. Those detained included individuals charged with serious offenses like murder, rape, and drug trafficking, along with members from notorious gangs such as MS-13 and Surenos 13.
Gabriel Martinez, who is the acting director of ICE’s Houston field office, suggested that these statistics aren’t unusual. He described them as typical for their monthly operations.
“We share this data not because it’s unusual but as evidence of our standard operations each month,” Martinez stated. He emphasized that such numbers are a direct outcome of immigration policies from the previous administration, which, he argues, permitted dangerous criminals to enter the U.S. unchecked. “It’s crucial for the public to realize that those we’re apprehending aren’t just innocent immigrants seeking a better life. They are individuals who repeatedly break the law, posing serious threats to community safety. If we don’t act, there’s a strong likelihood that they will continue their criminal activities, leading to more suffering,” he added.
According to reports, 25 of those captured have ties to gangs like MS-13 and others. Overall, the arrested group totaled 735 individuals with a combined 1,711 criminal convictions, 70% of which were serious offenses that endangered public safety.
Some notable convictions among those arrested include:
- 5 murders of police officers and 1 attempted death penalty
- 38 sexual offenses (including 13 against children)
- 12 for sex trafficking
- 170 for robbery, burglary, and theft
- 224 for aggravated assault and related crimes
- 4 for arson
- 32 for alien smuggling
- 24 for hit and run offenses
- 30 weapons-related offenses
- 3 for kidnapping
- 23 for domestic violence
- 8 for child abuse
- 495 DWI convictions, with various counts among multiple offenders
- 2 for organized crime
- 11 for drug trafficking
- 15 for making threatening statements
- 2 for deadly conduct
- 4 for road racing, resulting in injuries
- 1 for illegally transporting explosives
- 48 for fraud and identity theft
- 22 for criminal trespass
- 161 for drug possession
- Numerous other non-violent offenses comprising over 300 additional convictions.
ICE also provided information on several individuals arrested:
- Juan Esteban Zelaya Hernandez, 43, from Honduras, was arrested for multiple charges including murder and illegal re-entry. He was deported to Honduras shortly after his arrest.
- Dinh Quy Nguyen, 56, a convicted criminal from Vietnam, remains in custody following robbery and an attempted murder charge against a police officer.
- Miguel Rosas Ventura, 47, previously deported from Mexico, was arrested for manslaughter.
- Javier Moya Tentree, 41, has twice been deported and was arrested for murder.
- Jose Orbán Martinez, 32, had previous deportations and faced charges for aggravated sexual assault of a child.
- Jose Salinas Gonzalez, 41, from Mexico, has numerous charges including alien smuggling and illegal entry.
- Absalon Gonzalez López, 52, from Cuba, is accused of indecent exposure among other offenses.
- Juan Martín Lara Goames, 45, from Mexico, has a history of illegal entries and sexual crimes against children.
- Alonso Rafael Barrera de Leon, 41, also linked to drug trafficking and illegal entries.
- Juan Jose Aguilera Lemus, 56, has a long criminal history including aggravated assault and kidnapping.
- Burhan Qureshi, 47, from Pakistan, faces serious drug-related charges.
- Melvin Hernandez, 41, has a string of violent offenses including attempted murder.
- Jose Hernandez Benitez, 47, has been arrested multiple times, facing various theft and DWI charges.
- Feliciano Luna Mendoza, 40, previously deported from El Salvador, has similar charges against him.
- Arturo Cruz Badillo, 44, has been deported numerous times and has multiple DWI charges.
In addition to these individuals, ICE indicated that over 200 other undocumented individuals await trial or have pending criminal charges. This includes Carlos Galeano Lara, 37, wanted for murder in Honduras.
ICE representatives have stressed that these arrests reflect a consistent pattern rather than isolated events, highlighting persistent issues related to lax border enforcement. Without ongoing efforts for enforcement and deportation, they warn that communities may continue to pay a heavy price for the presence of violent criminals.
