U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Operation
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested and deported hundreds of undocumented immigrants in the Houston area during a seven-day operation last week. The operation, which lasted from May 4 to May 10, resulted in the arrests of 422 undocumented immigrants. 528 immigrants were also deported across that timespan.
Notable Arrests
Several notable criminals were among those apprehended during the sting, including:
- A 46-year-old immigrant from Colombia who has been convicted in Colombia of homicide and providing false information to law enforcement was arrested on May 7.
- A 40-year-old three-time deported immigrant from Mexico who has been convicted three times for possession of a controlled substance, twice for illegal discharge of a firearm, and once for arson, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, illegal entry, criminal mischief, and driving while intoxicated was arrested on May 8.
- A 32-year-old five-time deported immigrant from Mexico who has been convicted twice for burglary, larceny, and illegal reentry, and once for aggravated assault, was arrested on May 7.
- A 45-year-old immigrant from Mexico who has been convicted of sexual exploitation of a minor was arrested on May 5.
- A 72-year-old immigrant from Mexico who has been convicted of homicide, robbery, shoplifting, assault, and carrying a prohibited weapon was arrested on May 6.
Statement from ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations
“Fueled by our unwavering commitment to protect the public from harm, and united in our determination to re-establish sovereignty over our southern border, the law enforcement community in Texas has banded together to remove these dangerous criminals from our country and restore law and order in our communities,” ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston Field Office Director Bret Bradford said in the statement.
Expedited Removal Process
Along with the arrests, the operation also emphasized removing immigrants from the U.S. who have “exhausted due process and been ordered removed from the country.” To expedite these removals, ICE Houston used policy from the Trump administration to quickly process immigrants at various hubs along the southern border and deport them in a process that takes no longer than three days. Bradford said the expedited process will save U.S. taxpayers millions of dollars annually.
Partnership with DEA
DEA Houston Division Acting Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell said the DEA has partnered with ICE in these efforts, making sure drugs are taken off the streets through these operations. “These operations have allowed us to share our resources with our federal partners and expand our scope of DEA drug trafficking investigations to achieve the common goal of making communities safer,” Kimbell said.
Conclusion
The operation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the Houston area resulted in the arrest and deportation of hundreds of undocumented immigrants, including several notable criminals. The expedited removal process used by ICE Houston is expected to save U.S. taxpayers millions of dollars annually. The partnership between ICE and the DEA has allowed for a more effective approach to removing dangerous criminals and drugs from communities, making them safer for everyone.
