ICE’s Massive Operation During Government Shutdown Removes Thousands of Criminal Illegal Immigrants
In a remarkable demonstration of commitment to public safety, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Houston executed one of the largest enforcement operations in recent years—all while many officers went without pay during the government shutdown. The six-week operation, running from October 1 through November 12, led to the arrest of 3,593 criminal illegal immigrants across Southeast Texas. “Our entire team understands how critical ICE’s mission is to public safety and national security, and despite many of them going without pay, they continued to show up every day and give everything they had to protect this community,” explained Bret Bradford, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operation Houston Field Office Director. These dedicated officers remained focused on their mission despite personal financial hardships, prioritizing community safety above their own immediate needs.
The operation specifically targeted individuals with violent criminal histories, including 67 sex offenders, 51 child predators, 13 murderers, 10 fugitives, and 23 gang members affiliated with organizations like MS-13 and Paisas. Among those apprehended was 23-year-old Brayan Josue Pineda-Ayala, an MS-13 gang member from Honduras who was released into the United States in May 2024 and later allegedly committed a triple homicide in Dallas County. ICE officers also arrested Froilan Mejia Olveram, a 44-year-old Mexican national and convicted rapist who had been previously removed from the country twice. According to ICE, agents had encountered Mejia in 2023 but could not detain him due to the Biden administration’s enforcement guidelines. He subsequently went on to rape and assault a woman the following month before finally being caught in this operation. These cases highlight the potential public safety implications of immigration enforcement policies and the importance of identifying and removing violent offenders.
The operation’s success extended to capturing numerous child predators who posed an ongoing threat to community safety. Officers arrested Baldomero Perez-Quezada, a 56-year-old Mexican national who had been deported four times previously for crimes against children. They also apprehended Marco Dubon-Ayala, a 51-year-old convicted of sexual indecency with a child, and Juan Jose Moreno-Renteria, a 40-year-old child predator from Mexico who had illegally entered the United States seven times. Beyond these particularly troubling cases, the operation netted hundreds of individuals with convictions for driving while intoxicated, aggravated assault, weapons offenses, and burglary. Additional arrests included individuals convicted of aggravated kidnapping, drug-related crimes, human trafficking, making terroristic threats, prostitution, bribery, and illegal reentry. The diversity of criminal backgrounds demonstrates the wide-ranging public safety concerns that immigration enforcement operations often address.
The operation also focused on apprehending fugitives wanted for serious crimes both domestically and internationally, ensuring that these individuals would face justice for their alleged offenses. Among the ten fugitives arrested was Octavio Cruz-Garcia, a Mexican national who had been removed from the United States five times previously and was wanted for homicide in Harris County, Texas. Two Honduran brothers, Elder Antonio Cruz-Hernandez and Yony Roberto Cruz-Hernandez, were also taken into custody. Both men remain in ICE custody pending repatriation to Honduras, where they face homicide charges. These arrests highlight the international cooperation aspect of ICE operations and the agency’s role in ensuring that fugitives cannot use international borders to escape justice. By returning these individuals to face charges in their home countries, ICE contributes to global justice efforts while also removing potentially dangerous individuals from American communities.
The Southeast Texas operation reflects broader national concerns about public safety risks posed by certain illegal immigrants with criminal histories. While the vast majority of immigrants—both legal and illegal—are law-abiding residents, operations like this target the small percentage who have committed serious crimes. The operation’s focus on violent offenders, particularly those who had already been deported multiple times, raises questions about border security and immigration enforcement priorities. Several of those arrested had extensive histories of illegal entry following previous deportations, demonstrating the challenges of maintaining effective immigration controls. The significant number of arrests—3,593 in just six weeks—also indicates the scale of the issue in Southeast Texas alone, suggesting that similar challenges exist throughout other regions along the southern border.
Despite the government shutdown and resulting paycheck delays, ICE officers remained committed to their public safety mission throughout this operation. Their dedication resulted in the removal of numerous violent offenders from local communities throughout Southeast Texas. “As a result of those efforts, 51 dangerous child predators are no longer free to prey on our children, 10 fugitives have been apprehended and will now face justice for their alleged offenses, and thousands of other violent criminal aliens have been removed from local communities,” Bradford emphasized. The operation stands as a testament to the dedication of federal law enforcement officers who continued to serve the public despite personal financial uncertainty. While immigration policy remains a contentious political issue, the removal of violent criminals—regardless of their immigration status—represents a core public safety function that transcends partisan debates. For the communities of Southeast Texas, this operation meant the removal of individuals with histories of violence, sexual abuse, and other serious crimes, making neighborhoods safer for all residents.
