Federal immigration authorities say a weeklong enforcement operation in southeast Texas led to the arrests of more than 800 illegal immigrants, including convicted murderers, child predators, gang members, and fugitives.
The sweep, carried out between Aug. 17 and Aug. 23, was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Houston field office, with assistance from multiple federal and state agencies.
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations acting Field Office Director Gabriel Martinez said the mission was designed to enhance safety in a region heavily impacted by what he described as “years of open-border policies.”
“Transnational gang members, foreign fugitives and other violent criminal aliens took advantage of the crisis at our southern border,” Martinez said. “Many remained in the Houston area and went on to wreak havoc in our communities.”
The operation involved cooperation with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the DEA, ATF, FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, Diplomatic Security Service, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Officials said joint operations like this one are part of President Trump’s focus on restoring law and order by removing “the worst of the worst” offenders.