El Paso Standard

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in collaboration with various federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, conducted a week-long operation in the Houston area that resulted in the arrest of 646 undocumented individuals. Among those arrested were 543 criminal aliens and seven documented gang members. The operation took place from February 23 to March 2 and aimed to enhance public safety, national security, and border security.

During this enforcement effort, ICE executed 71 criminal arrest warrants. The arrests included undocumented individuals charged or convicted of serious offenses while illegally present in the United States. These offenses included aggravated felonies such as homicide, aggravated assault, domestic violence, sex offenses involving minors, illegal firearms possession, drug trafficking, property crimes like burglary or theft, and driving while intoxicated.

Bret Bradford, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston Field Office Director stated: "In recent years, some of the world’s most dangerous fugitives, transnational gang members and criminal aliens have taken advantage of the crisis at our nation’s southern border to illegally enter the U.S." He emphasized that many of these individuals commit violent crimes after entering the country unlawfully.

Chad Plantz, ICE Homeland Security Investigations Houston Special Agent in Charge added: "In just one week working alongside our counterparts from federal, state and local law enforcement," they successfully executed numerous arrests including human smugglers and traffickers. Plantz noted that these efforts have improved community safety significantly.

The operation saw participation from several agencies including U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; FBI; Drug Enforcement Administration; Texas Department of Public Safety; Diplomatic Security Service; U.S. Marshals Service; among others.