U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with other federal and Texas officials, conducted a massive 10-day operation in Houston from October 22-31 that led to over 1,500 arrests. The operation targeted aggravated felons, gang members, sexual predators, a murderer, and other violent criminals, according to the ICE statement. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Field Office Director Bret Bradford announced the results, stating that the arrests prevented countless Houstonians from suffering from the trauma of violent crime, including PTSD and nightmares.
The operation was part of a series of ICE initiatives to address illegal immigration and remove dangerous individuals from the community. In addition to the October operation, ICE previously conducted similar operations in August and February-March, which resulted in 822 and 543 arrests, respectively. These efforts are part of a broader policy to identify and remove non-citizens who pose a threat to public safety.
The October operation specifically targeted individuals with extensive criminal histories, including some who had been previously deported from the U.S. According to ICE, 255 of the 1,505 arrested had been deported at least once. Nearly one-third of those arrested had been ordered removed by an immigration judge. The agency highlighted some of the most dangerous offenders, including Selvin Joel Lara Diaz, a previously deported child predator and Mexican mafia member who was arrested hiding in a Houston-area grocery store.
Another notable case involved Marlon Odir Gomez Hernandez, a suspected MS-13 gang member from El Salvador, who was arrested after evading capture. He was caught in a washateria where he climbed through the ceiling panels and was wedged in a sign on the side of the building. The operation also included Rony Andy Martinez Lopez, a Honduran citizen previously deported and convicted of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor and cruelty towards a child. Vongphachan Phothisome, a 53-year-old from Laos, was also arrested for sexual exploitation of a minor.
Salvador Ramirez-Carrillo, a 46-year-old from Mexico, was a member of the Paisas gang and had been convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and evading arrest with a vehicle. He had been deported four times. Another individual, Rey David Bautista-Antonio, a 27-year-old also from Mexico, was arrested after being convicted of three DWIs. Bradford emphasized that these arrests have saved lives and protected the community from potential threats, ensuring that dangerous individuals are no longer free to commit violence or endanger public safety.
Bradford concluded that while it’s impossible to quantify the exact impact of these arrests, they have undoubtedly prevented countless Houstonians from suffering from the trauma of violent crime. The operation reflects a continued commitment by ICE to enforce immigration laws and protect communities from the dangers posed by illegal aliens and criminal elements.