by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 1,361 foreign nationals living in the Houston area in June, all of whom were in the country illegally and had current felony charges or convictions, according to a report.
Key Details from the Arrest Operation:
- 32 individuals were convicted of child sex offenses
- 9 individuals were convicted of homicide-related offenses
- 16 were documented members of transnational gangs or drug cartels
- 1 Cuban national was convicted of hijacking an airplane
- The operation was conducted by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Houston field office in collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners
Statement from ICE
Gabriel Martinez, acting Field Office Director for ICE ERO Houston, emphasized the importance of the mission:
“The number of dangerous criminal aliens that they removed from local communities across Southeast Texas last month is just another example of their selfless and unyielding efforts to return our local communities to places where we can all raise our families without having to worry about child predators, gang members, or other violent criminal aliens preying on our loved ones.”
Notable Arrests
- Adermis Wilson-Gonzalez (52): Cuban national convicted of hijacking a plane from Cuba to Key West in 2003
- Arnulfo Olivares Cervantes (47): Former member of Los Mexicles, affiliated with the Sinaloa Cartel; convicted of attempted murder, cocaine trafficking, and illegal entry
- Luis Pablo Vasquez-Estolano (29): Deported six times, convicted of homicide, aggravated robbery, and drug possession
- Jose Meza (40): Convicted of sexual assault of a minor, previously deported four times
- Javier Escobar Gonzalez (51): Convicted of sexual indecency with a minor, unauthorized firearm use, and criminal trespass
Broader Enforcement Efforts
- In June, ICE deported 142 individuals to Mexico with 473 criminal convictions
- ICE is also investigating drug trafficking networks in Houston, including operations involving taco trucks and the U.S. Postal Service
- Agents have arrested individuals connected to terrorist organizations, including two Iranians with removal orders, criminal histories, and connections to state sponsors of terrorism
This large-scale enforcement action highlights ICE’s continued efforts to identify, detain, and remove dangerous foreign nationals posing public safety threats in southeast Texas and beyond.
