El Paso Standard

On April 9, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the FBI, and the Texas Department of Public Safety arrested Jesus Alberto Escalona-Mujicas in Bryan, Texas. Escalona-Mujicas, a member of the Tren de Aragua gang from Venezuela, was residing illegally in the Houston area.

The arrest took place during multi-agency enforcement operations aimed at reinforcing U.S. immigration laws and enhancing public safety, national, and border security. Escalona-Mujicas has since been taken into ICE custody at the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas, awaiting his removal from the U.S.

Escalona-Mujicas entered the U.S. illegally at an unknown date and location. He was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol near Brownsville, Texas, on April 10, 2023, and was placed into immigration proceedings. Although an immigration judge ordered his removal on March 6, 2024, he evaded authorities before the order could be executed.

Bret Bradford, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston Field Office Director, expressed the commitment of law enforcement in South Texas to uphold the nation’s immigration laws. Bradford stated, “The law enforcement community in South Texas is united in our determination to restore integrity to our nation’s immigration laws and sovereignty over our southern border.” He emphasized the importance of removing transnational gang members like those from the Tren de Aragua, known for their brutality, to prevent crime and boost community safety.

For more information on ICE's immigration enforcement efforts in Texas, follow their updates on X at @EROHouston.