Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Houston announced on April 22 the arrest of 277 individuals identified as criminal illegal aliens, who collectively have been convicted of 751 criminal offenses and entered the United States illegally a total of 654 times. The arrests took place between April 6 and April 17 with assistance from federal, state, and local law enforcement partners.
The operation comes at a time when local government bodies in Houston and Harris County are considering policies that would limit cooperation with ICE. According to ICE officials, such measures could have immediate impacts on public safety.
Paul McBride, acting Field Office Director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Houston, said, “President Trump and Secretary Mullin know that when ICE works with local and state law enforcement partners, that communities are safer, illegal aliens are arrested, and the American people are protected.” McBride also said, “Thanks to those relationships, we’ve removed hundreds of dangerous criminal illegal alien child predators, murderers, drug traffickers, gang members, and thieves from the local community in just two weeks and prevented an untold number of U.S. citizens from becoming victims.”
McBride warned about potential consequences if sanctuary policies move forward: “If these measures are implemented to limit that cooperation there will be immediate impacts to public safety, national security, and border security. Tragically, the worst impact will be felt in the migrant community that these same officials claim they’re protecting because that’s where criminal illegal aliens commit the majority of their offenses.”
Among those arrested were individuals convicted or wanted for serious crimes including homicide-related offenses (six convictions), child sex offenses (17 convictions), robbery-related crimes (67 convictions), drug trafficking (16 convictions), gang affiliation (15 individuals), as well as hit-and-run incidents. Notable cases include Haydee Mercado-Rodriguez—an MS-13 member from El Salvador convicted for aggravated homicide—and Minh Duy Tong Nguyen—a Vietnamese national convicted for murder more than two decades ago.
ICE stated its Houston field office covers immigration enforcement across 58 counties in Southeast Texas. Members of the public can report suspicious activity by calling a dedicated tip line or using an online form provided by ICE.
