ICE arrests 62 criminal aliens and immigration violators in Texas sweep

SAN ANTONIO — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers arrested 62 criminal aliens, fugitives and other immigration violators in central and south Texas during a three-day multi-city enforcement operation.

This operation, which began Oct. 28 and concluded Thursday, is the latest effort by ICE to prioritize the removal of criminal aliens and egregious immigration violators. Arrests were made in the following areas: Austin, San Antonio, Laredo, Waco and the Rio Grande Valley. The 55 men and seven women who were arrested are from the following five countries: Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Iraq and Nicaragua.

“The situation on the border has truly tested the limits of our ICE officers in central and south Texas,” said Enrique Lucero, field office director of ERO San Antonio. “However, the public can rest assured knowing that ICE officers work diligently on a daily basis arresting criminal aliens to help keep our communities safe, even with our recent unique challenges.”

Of the 62 individuals arrested, 54 had previous criminal convictions including: aggravated assault, drug possession, burglary, alien smuggling and drunken driving.

The other eight arrests included those who are immigration fugitives, those previously deported, or those in the country without authorization.

Following is a breakdown of those arrested per area during the operation: seven in Austin, five in Waco, 30 in San Antonio, eight in Laredo, and 12 in the Rio Grande Valley.

The following are case examples of individuals arrested during the operation (in accordance with Department of Homeland Security privacy policies, names are not included):

• A 26-year-old Mexican national with previous convictions for illegal re-entry, delivery of controlled substance and criminal mischief was arrested Oct. 29 by ICE officers in Laredo.
• A 55-year-old Mexican national whose convictions range from aggravated assault with a deadly weapon to multiple DWI’s was arrested Oct. 29 by ICE officers in Laredo.
• A 24-year-old Mexican national whose convictions range from assault with bodily injury to burglary of habitation. He was arrested in Austin Oct. 28 by ICE officers and remains in ICE custody pending a hearing before an immigration judge.
• A 37-year-old Honduran national whose convictions include assault and battery, assault with bodily injury to a family member and alien smuggling. He was arrested Oct. 29 by ICE officers in San Antonio. He remains in ICE custody pending a hearing before an immigration judge.
• A 40-year-old Mexican national whose convictions range from narcotics trafficking to DWI. He was arrested Oct. 28 by ICE officers in Harlingen, Texas, and remains in ICE custody pending a hearing before an immigration judge.
• A 20-year-old Mexican national with previous convictions of injury to a child was arrested Oct. 24 by ICE officers in Waco, Texas. He remains in ICE custody pending a hearing before an immigration judge.