ICE arrests almost 650 unauthorized immigrants in Texas, with over 80% facing criminal charges or convictions

The recent immigration enforcement operation in the Houston area led to the apprehension of 646 individuals, including 543 criminal aliens and seven gang members.

Taking place over a week, the collaborative effort by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and various law enforcement agencies aimed to enhance public safety, national security, and border security.

During the operation from Feb. 23 to March 2, 71 criminal arrest warrants were executed, resulting in the arrest of 543 undocumented individuals with criminal charges or convictions related to their unlawful presence in the U.S.

Of the criminal aliens arrested, 140 were charged or convicted of an aggravated felony or violent offense, like homicide, aggravated assault or domestic violence.

ICE agents arrested seven illegal immigrants during a separate workforce operation raid. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)

Also weighing in on the massive operation was ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz, who said the collective efforts have made the Houston community significantly safer and strengthened the country’s national security and border security.

“In just one week working alongside our counterparts from federal, state and local law enforcement, ICE HSI special agents successfully executed 71 criminal arrest warrants and made 554 administrative arrests that included illegally present human smugglers, gang members, human traffickers, child sex offenders, drug traffickers and weapons traffickers,” Plantz said in a statement. “As a result, we’ve sent a resounding message to transnational criminal organizations everywhere that the law enforcement community in the Texas Gulf Coast is more united than ever and will not rest until we’ve eradicated these criminal elements from the country.”

Along with ICE, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Diplomatic Security Service and the U.S. Marshals Service participated in the operation.