During the federal government shutdown from Oct. 1 through Nov. 12, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Houston carried out a sweeping operation, arresting 3,593 criminal illegal aliens in Southeast Texas.
Officials said the arrests targeted individuals with serious criminal histories, repeated deportations and ongoing threats to public safety, including gang members, child predators and violent offenders.
The operation encompassed a wide range of offenses.
Those detained included 67 sex offenders, 13 murderers, 51 child predators, 366 convicted of DWIs, 261 convicted of aggravated assault and 103 convicted of burglary or theft.
In addition, ICE apprehended 23 gang members, including an MS‑13 affiliate facing a triple homicide charge in Dallas.
Officials emphasized that many of those arrested had previously been deported multiple times but re-entered the U.S. illegally.
High-profile arrests underscored the operation’s reach, The Post Millennial reports.
Brayan Josue Pineda-Ayala, a 23-year-old MS‑13 gang member from Honduras, was released into the U.S. by the Biden administration in May 2024 and allegedly committed a triple homicide in Dallas before being taken into custody by ICE on Oct. 7.
He was transferred to Dallas County Jail to face charges.
Baldomero Perez-Quezada, 56, a four-times-removed criminal illegal alien and convicted child predator from Mexico, remained in the U.S. illegally following previous encounters with federal authorities.
He was arrested on Oct. 17 and deported on Oct. 31 after a recent conviction for sexual indecency with a child.
Other notable detainees included Froilan Mejia Olveram, 44, a twice-deported rapist from Mexico who assaulted a woman after being allowed to remain in the U.S. under Biden administration guidelines.
ICE also arrested individuals charged with aggravated kidnapping, human trafficking, drug and weapons offenses, making terroristic threats, illegal reentry and other crimes.
Ten fugitives with outstanding warrants, including suspects wanted for homicide in Honduras and Venezuela, were also apprehended during the shutdown.
“Our entire team understands how critical ICE’s mission is to public safety and national security,” Bret Bradford, Director of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Houston, said in a press release. “Despite many going without pay during the shutdown, they continued to work tirelessly to remove dangerous criminal aliens, including gang members, child predators, murderers, and rapists.”
Bradford highlighted the results of the operation: 51 child predators are no longer free, ten fugitives have been apprehended and thousands of other violent offenders will be removed from local communities throughout Southeast Texas.
Officials emphasized that the arrests prevent further threats to children and the public while enforcing U.S. immigration law.
The operation also drew attention to enforcement policies under the Biden administration, particularly regarding individuals who remain in the U.S. despite prior deportations or criminal convictions.
ICE officials stressed that its mission focuses on removing repeat offenders, violent gang members, and sex offenders, even amid federal pay interruptions.
The Houston Field Office’s efforts illustrate the agency’s continued commitment to public safety and national security, demonstrating that enforcement remains a priority despite administrative challenges.
Authorities noted that the arrests not only remove dangerous criminals from communities but also serve as a deterrent to others attempting to evade immigration laws, emphasizing the broader implications for local public safety
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