HOUSTON, Texas — Ice Agents Deport Mexican Fugitives
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has deported two wanted illegal immigrants from Mexico, each linked to separate murder charges. This comes as a surprise since one of these individuals was previously released into the U.S. despite having an active murder warrant from Mexico.
According to information shared with Breitbart Texas, agents from ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Houston deported Agustín Morales Renteria and Juan Becerra Ruiz, both 24, back to Mexico on July 21. They are wanted in different states of Mexico for serious offenses including aggravated murder.
Morales Renteria had entered the U.S. illegally on September 21, 2021, just as the pandemic was escalating. He was quickly deported under Section 42, established during the previous Trump administration. Despite this, he re-entered the U.S. on October 15, 2021, likely trying to evade prosecution for the warrant issued against him by Michoacán, Mexico.
Fast forward to December 4, 2024. ICE officers found him in a Jackson County, Missouri jail, where he was dealing with charges of tampering with a vehicle and possession of a controlled substance. At that time, Biden administration policies made it difficult to detain known murder fugitives.
Later, Morales Renteria was convicted for being an illegal alien found with a firearm, leading to an 18-month prison sentence. Following that, a federal judge mandated his deportation, and ICE took him into custody on May 21, 2026. On July 21, he was taken to the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge in Laredo, Texas, where Mexican authorities received him.
On the same day, Juan Becerra Ruiz, another fugitive, was also sent back to Mexico. It’s worth noting that Becerra-Ruiz entered the U.S. illegally at some unspecified time. A warrant for his arrest was issued on October 21, 2022, in Queretaro, Mexico, for intentional homicide. In May, U.S. Border Patrol discovered leads pointing to his possible location in Houston. They finally found him during a traffic stop on June 4 in the suburb of Springs. An immigration judge approved his removal by June 30, ICE reported.
Becerra Ruiz was subsequently transported to the Juarez Lincoln Bridge in Laredo on July 21 and handed over to Mexican law enforcement.
ICE officials in Houston remain active in apprehending illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds. In the first half of July alone, agents arrested around 260 individuals, many of whom were linked to dangerous gangs like MS-13 and others. Collectively, these individuals had illegally re-entered the U.S. 535 times. In total, a staggering 642 people were arrested for various crimes putting public safety at risk.
Gabriel Martinez, the Acting Director of ERO Houston, stated that his team is committed to ensuring that Southeast Texas does not become a refuge for dangerous criminals or undocumented fugitives. He emphasized their dedication to enforcing immigration laws impartially, prioritizing actions that promote public safety and national security.
Regarding the two recently deported fugitives, Martinez expressed hope that justice for their crimes would provide some closure to the victims’ families.
