In one of the largest immigration enforcement blitzes in recent history, federal agents swept through Southeast Texas and arrested more than 1,500 criminal noncitizens over 10 days.
According to Breitbart, from October 25 to October 30, ICE’s Houston Field Office led a multi-agency crackdown targeting violent offenders, repeat immigration violators, and gang-linked individuals—with results that shattered regional records for such operations.
This targeted push across several Texas counties ended with 1,505 arrests, almost double the number detained in a similar August initiative and nearly triple those taken into custody during a spring operation.
High-Priority Offenders Lead Arrest Totals
The sweep was not some random roundup—it was precise, deliberate, and aimed at individuals who represented real, immediate threats to public safety. Among those arrested were 17 affiliated with known gangs, 40 aggravated felons, and 13 individuals convicted of crimes involving child exploitation or abuse.
One man taken into custody, Selvin Joel Lara Diaz, was a previously deported Mexican Mafia member convicted of raping and impregnating his underage sister. He had also fled murder charges in Honduras before ICE found him in a Houston grocery store.
Another, Marlon Odir Gomez Hernandez—a known MS-13 gang member from El Salvador—was located after a bizarre attempt to hide in a washateria resulted in him getting stuck in a building sign. He had previously escaped custody in his home country.
Teamwork Across Agencies Delivers Serious Impact
This operation wasn’t just an ICE affair. It involved agents from the FBI, DEA, ATF, U.S. Marshals, Customs and Border Protection, and even local Texas law enforcement. Those who still think this is only a federal problem clearly haven’t been listening to the boots on the ground in Texas.
In a first-of-its-kind pilot program, the arrests happened primarily during nighttime hours—when officials noted criminal scouts and serious offenders are more active. Officers often returned after regular shifts to volunteer for night duty. “We anticipated there would be more opportunities to find people committing crimes, including carrying drugs, firearms, and driving under the influence,” said Larry Adams, acting deputy director at ICE Houston. And they weren’t wrong.
Child Predators and Repeat Felons Featured Prominently
In total, agents tallied 115 offenders with aggravated assault charges, 142 with multiple DWIs, 55 with drug offenses, and 31 others with illegal weapons charges. Add in another 25 arrested for burglary and theft, and the picture becomes grimly clear. One standout included Vongphachan Phothisome, a 53-year-old Laotian national with a disturbing conviction for sexually exploiting a child. Another, Rony Andy Martinez Lopez of Honduras, was convicted of both child cruelty and lewd acts with a minor.
Director Bret Bradford didn’t hesitate to underscore the gravity of these cases. “Thanks to their unwavering commitment to defend this community … a previously deported gang member convicted of raping his sister … is no longer free,” he said.
Removals Already Underway For Many Detainees
According to ICE, almost one-third of the individuals arrested have already completed their due process and are awaiting removal from the country. The remainder are being processed and scheduled for immigration proceedings.
The list of arrests also included Rey David Bautista-Antonio, a Mexican national convicted of three separate DWI offenses. And then there were the smaller cases: one drunk driver, one passenger, pending proceedings—but each one prevented a possible catastrophe. Bradford was candid during a nighttime patrol on October 25, stating, “These men and women all volunteered to work this new nighttime operation."
Public Safety Once Again Takes Center Stage
Some may downplay the impact of these enforcement actions, but the numbers—and the names—speak for themselves. These weren’t harmless border crossers; many had criminal records that would make your blood run cold.
“While it’s impossible to put a measure on the crimes that will never happen as a result of their efforts...they’ve saved lives,” Bradford added. For once, the narrative wasn’t about abstract policies—it was about real lives protected through action. This wasn’t performative policy. It was results-driven law enforcement taking direct steps to protect communities and enforce existing laws. While the chattering classes were debating definitions on cable news, ICE was doing the work no one else wants to talk about.
