TEXAS — A seven-day U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation led to the arrest of 422 undocumented immigrants and the deportation of 528 immigrants.
The operation took place as a weeklong operation in the Houston area.
“As part of our commitment to national security and lawful immigration enforcement, the CBP Air and Marine Operations Houston Air Branch is supporting the President’s executive order by transporting individuals subject to removal,” said U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations Houston Air Branch Acting Director Jeremy D. Battenfield. “Our team is ensuring these operations are carried out safely, efficiently, and in full coordination with our federal partners.”
Using a Trump administration initiative, ICE expedited the removal of immigrants to the U.S.-Mexico border within 24-72 hours of apprehension.
Five cases of arrested immigrants and their criminal charges were featured by DHS, though the specifics of the crimes and immigration violations were not provided for the other immigrants arrested.
“This initiative will save taxpayers millions of dollars each year by significantly reducing the time that aliens who have exhausted due process and been ordered removed from the U.S. need to be in ICE custody,” said ICE Houston Field Office Director Bret Bradford.
A multi-agency operation led to these arrests and deportations.
“This operation underscores the vital importance of collaboration across federal, state, and local agencies in protecting our communities,” said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Houston Special Agent in Charge Michael Weddel. “By working together, we were able to identify and remove individuals who posed a clear threat to public safety.”
