ICE officers arrest 82 criminal aliens in the Houston area

Operation targeted convicted felons who are 

amenable to removal from the US

HOUSTON — Eighty-two convicted criminal aliens were arrested during a five-day enforcement action which ended Friday and was conducted by officers with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in the Houston area.

The enforcement operation took place July 13 through 17 and was part of an ongoing effort by ICE to prioritize the arrest and removal of convicted criminal aliens and egregious immigration law violators.

“The success of this targeted enforcement operation emphasizes ICE's strong commitment and focus to arresting and removing convicted criminal aliens and immigration fugitives,” said Steven P. Boll, field office director of ERO Houston.

All 82 individuals arrested have been convicted of crimes in the United States and fall within ICE’s enforcement priorities. Of those, 21 have felony convictions and seven have aggravated felony convictions. These convictions include robbery, aggravated assault and drug possession.

Also, 53 of the 82 individuals arrested were convicted of misdemeanors, such as domestic violence, assault, larceny and weapons violations. Eight of those arrested were criminal fugitives; four had previously been deported and illegally re-entered the United States after Jan. 1, 2014.

Due to their serious criminal histories and prior immigration arrest records, two of those arrested are pending federal prosecution for re-entering the United States after having been previously removed.

Following are examples of three individuals who were arrested during this operation:

• A 56-year-old Mexican national, who was a U.S. permanent resident, was convicted for possessing cocaine with intent to deliver. He was sentenced to seven years in federal prison probated for seven years. He remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
• A 55-year-old Mexican national, convicted for manufacture/delivery of controlled substance. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison probated for seven years. He was also convicted for driving while intoxicated and sentenced to six months in jail. In 1989, he adjusted his status to U.S. permanent resident. He remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
• A 29-year-old Mexican national, who is a documented MS-13 gang member, was convicted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon as a juvenile. In 2001, he was convicted for unlawfully carrying a weapon. In 2009, he was convicted for assault causing bodily injury to a family member. In 2012, he was convicted for possessing a controlled substance. This year he illegally re-entered the United States after having been previously deported. His case will be presented to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution for re-entry of a previously removed criminal alien.