Houston ICE operation nabs 422 undocumented migrants and deports 528 criminals in just seven days, targeting murderers, sex offenders, and repeat border violators in Trump’s renewed immigration crackdown.
Key Takeaways
- ICE conducted a week-long operation in Houston from May 4-10, arresting 422 undocumented immigrants and deporting 528 criminals with final removal orders
- Of those arrested, 262 had criminal convictions, including homicide, sexual exploitation of minors, and aggravated assault with deadly weapons
- The Trump administration’s expedited deportation process removed illegal immigrants within three days of arrest, saving taxpayers millions annually
- Notable arrests included a Colombian murderer, a five-time deported Mexican burglar, and a 72-year-old Mexican convicted of homicide
ICE Targets Criminal Migrants in Houston Sweep
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers completed a major immigration enforcement operation in Houston, arresting 422 undocumented immigrants and deporting 528 individuals with final removal orders. The week-long initiative from May 4 to May 10 specifically targeted individuals with criminal backgrounds, including those convicted of homicide, drug possession, illegal firearm discharge, arson, sexual exploitation of minors, and aggravated assault. The operation represents one of the first large-scale enforcement actions since President Trump took office and began implementing his promised immigration agenda.
“Fueled by our unwavering commitment to protect the public from harm, and united in our determination to re-establish sovereignty over our southern border, the law enforcement community in Texas has banded together to remove these dangerous criminals from our country and restore law and order in our communities,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston Field Office Director Bret Bradford.
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Dangerous Criminals Among Those Apprehended
The operation yielded arrests of numerous high-risk offenders who had evaded justice. Among those apprehended was a 46-year-old Colombian national convicted of homicide who had been sentenced to 21 years in prison in Colombia. The individual entered the United States illegally in February 2024, was given a court date for an immigration hearing and released. When he failed to appear for his court date, a removal order was issued in March 2025. Agents also arrested a 32-year-old Mexican national who had been deported five times and had convictions for burglary and aggravated assault.
Another significant capture was Hector Castillo-Garcia, a 40-year-old Mexican national who had been deported twice previously and was convicted of multiple charges. Authorities also arrested Junior Alejandro Chan Lopez, a 29-year-old Honduran national previously convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. A 45-year-old Mexican convicted of sexual exploitation of a minor and a 72-year-old Mexican with homicide convictions were also among those taken into custody during the operation, demonstrating the serious threat these individuals posed to community safety.
“He has a homicide conviction in Colombia and was sentenced to 21 years there. He entered the United States illegally in February of 2024, was given a court date for an immigration hearing, and was released. He did not show up for that court date, so in March of this year, he was ordered removed by an immigration judge here in the United States,” said ICE Houston Director Bret Bradford.
Trump Administration’s Expedited Deportation Process
The operation implemented the Trump administration’s expedited deportation processes, enabling ICE to remove illegal immigrants within three days of arrest instead of keeping them in prolonged detention. This streamlined “hub-and-spoke” system focuses on quickly processing individuals who have already exhausted all due process and received final deportation orders. Of the 422 arrests, 262 had criminal convictions, 34 had pending criminal charges, 126 were cited for other immigration violations, and 229 had final orders of removal from immigration judges.
“They are doing the database research to get the worst of the worst, the ones who have the most significant threat to public safety,” said ICE Houston Director Brett Bradford.
The DEA partnered with ICE during this operation, combining resources to expand the scope of drug trafficking investigations while simultaneously apprehending undocumented criminals. “These operations have allowed us to share our resources with our federal partners and expand our scope of DEA drug trafficking investigations to achieve the common goal of making communities safer,” said DEA Houston Division Acting Special Agent in Charge William Kimbell.
Taxpayer Savings and Continued Enforcement
The operation is expected to save American taxpayers millions annually by reducing the time illegal immigrants spend in ICE custody. Under the Trump administration’s directives, ICE is focusing on apprehending and removing individuals who have exhausted all legal appeals and have final removal orders. This approach not only improves public safety by removing dangerous criminals from communities but also reduces the financial burden on American taxpayers who previously funded extended detention periods for these individuals.
GOP Representative Wesley Hunt of Texas praised the operation on social media, stating: “ICE Houston Apprehends High-Profile Migrant Criminals! 400+ illegal aliens were arrested in a weeklong effort to crack down on migrant crime. Let’s keep up the good work!”
The Houston operation is likely the first of many similar enforcement actions as the Trump administration continues to implement its immigration agenda and fulfill campaign promises to secure the border and deport illegal immigrants, particularly those with criminal records who pose threats to American communities.
