A targeted enforcement operation in Texas's largest migrant settlement leads to the arrest of a previously deported foreign national.

According to Breitbart Texas, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers apprehended Florentin Chevez-Luna, a 39-year-old Salvadoran national who had been previously deported three times, at Colony Ridge in Plum Grove on February 24.

The joint operation targeted Chevez-Luna based on warrants for repeated sexual abuse of a minor that allegedly occurred over an eight-year period from November 2008 to November 2016. Court documents reveal the victim reported the abuse to Houston police in March 2023.

Multiple deportations failed to keep suspect out

Chevez-Luna's history with U.S. immigration authorities dates back more than a decade. ICE officials confirmed to Breitbart that he was first removed from the country in September 2010, following a final order of removal issued by an immigration judge the previous month.

Immigration records show he was subsequently deported again in March 2011. Despite these removals, Chevez-Luna returned to the United States and was convicted in July 2012 on a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest in Harris County, Texas.

Following this conviction, a county judge sentenced him to 30 days in jail. Immigration authorities placed a detainer on him, resulting in his third deportation in September 2012.

ICE officials addressing the arrest emphasized the importance of their ongoing enforcement efforts in the region. In a statement to media, they highlighted their daily operations with partner agencies:

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducts routine, daily enforcement alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners throughout the Houston community to bolster public safety, national security, and border security.

Colony Ridge sees multiple enforcement actions

The arrest took place in Colony Ridge, described as the largest migrant colony in Texas, located in Liberty County. This same area saw additional law enforcement activity on the same day Chevez-Luna was apprehended.

ICE and DPS officials arrested another previously deported Salvadoran migrant on murder charges in Colony Ridge on February 24, according to previous reporting. This suggests a concentrated enforcement effort in the area.

In a separate incident on Monday, a Salvadoran migrant with suspected ties to the MS-13 gang was allegedly involved in a fatal stabbing at a residence in Colony Ridge. The altercation occurred on County Road 5740 and ended with the victim being stabbed inside his truck parked at his home.

Police reportedly apprehended the suspected MS-13 gang member late Monday night following the homicide investigation. These incidents have drawn increased attention to the area and its security challenges.

Ongoing border security challenges persist

Chevez-Luna's case illustrates the complex issues surrounding repeat border crossings despite previous deportations. His three removals from the United States—in September 2010, March 2011, and September 2012—failed to prevent his return and alleged criminal activities.

The charges against Chevez-Luna concern serious allegations of child sexual abuse spanning eight years. Houston Crime Stoppers reported that the victim came forward with an outcry statement to authorities in southwest Houston nearly two years ago.

The case represents one element of broader border security concerns that continue to challenge federal and state authorities in Texas. The joint operation between ICE and Texas DPS demonstrates ongoing coordination between federal and state agencies to address these issues.