ICE Houston Reports 3,593 Arrests of Criminal Noncitizens During Federal Shutdown

Houston, TX. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that its Houston Field Office arrested 3,593 criminal noncitizens in Southeast Texas between Oct. 1 and Nov. 12, the duration of the recent federal government shutdown. According to ICE, the individuals taken into custody had a wide range of criminal convictions or pending charges, and enforcement operations continued despite employees working without pay.

ICE reported that those arrested included 13 individuals accused or convicted of murder, 51 individuals identified as child predators, 67 registered sex offenders, 366 people convicted of driving while intoxicated, 261 convicted of aggravated assault, 103 convicted of burglary or theft, 46 with weapons convictions, and 23 identified as gang members. Ten individuals with outstanding arrest warrants in the United States or abroad were also taken into custody.

ICE Houston Field Office Director Bret Bradford stated that officers remained focused on public safety and national security during the shutdown. Bradford said the enforcement effort resulted in the apprehension of individuals accused of serious offenses and the removal of others with violent criminal histories from local communities.

The agency highlighted several individual cases, including:
• A 23-year-old MS-13 gang member from Honduras wanted in connection with a triple homicide in Dallas County.
• A twice-removed Mexican national previously convicted of rape who was later convicted of additional violent offenses.
• Multiple individuals with prior convictions for child sexual abuse who had reentered the United States illegally.
• Several repeat immigration violators with histories of assault, drug offenses, or weapons charges.
• Three fugitives wanted for homicide in Texas and Honduras.

ICE stated that individuals arrested during the operation will either face criminal prosecution, be transferred to local jurisdictions on outstanding warrants, or enter removal proceedings, depending on their cases. The agency reported that enforcement actions remain ongoing.