U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has announced the arrest of 214 illegal aliens in the Houston area over the past six months for immigration offenses, specifically targeting those charged or convicted of sex offenses involving minors. This number surpasses the total arrests made during the entire 2024 fiscal year by ICE's Houston field office, which recorded 211 similar arrests.
The increase in arrests is attributed to a comprehensive government approach implemented under the current administration. This strategy includes multiagency targeting teams conducting enhanced immigration enforcement operations to focus on apprehending dangerous criminal aliens. The efforts have reportedly improved community safety, national security, and border security in Southeast Texas.
"Bringing together the resources and expertise of the entire federal law enforcement community to confront the overwhelming surge of illegal immigration that we saw over the past four years has resulted in the arrest and removal of historic numbers of violent criminal aliens, transnational gang members and child sex offenders," stated ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston acting Field Office Director Paul McBride. He added that while challenges remain, significant progress has been made toward safer communities.
Some individuals arrested include Jesus Gutierrez Mireles from Mexico, Jorge Zebra from Mexico, Manuel Antonio Castro-Juarez from El Salvador, Jose Guadalupe Meza from Mexico, and Sergio Rolando Galvan Guerrero from Mexico. These individuals have been charged with various offenses including aggravated sexual assault of a child.
Federal agencies such as the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Diplomatic Security Service, and U.S. Marshals Service have supported these operations alongside state and local law enforcement agencies.
ICE encourages public reporting of crimes or suspicious activities through their hotline or online tip form. The Houston field office oversees immigration enforcement across 57 counties in Southeast Texas.
For further information about ICE’s activities in Southeast Texas, follow them on X at @EROHouston.
