In a significant move on Monday, March 10, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), working with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, conducted a highly successful immigration raid in Texas that led to the arrest of nearly 650 illegal aliens. The operation, which spanned a week, has garnered widespread attention due to the staggering number of criminal backgrounds among those apprehended—more than three-quarters of those detained had criminal records.
This bold operation comes amid growing concerns over the safety of American communities, especially as illegal immigration continues to flood the southern border. While the Trump Administration, led by Border Czar Tom Homan and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, has faced challenges in ramping up deportations, it is using targeted enforcement operations like this one to regain control over the situation. With large-scale raids and a push for self-deportation, the government is sending a clear message that it will not tolerate criminal behavior by illegal aliens.
Announcing the operation in a press release on its official website, ICE highlighted the scale and scope of the raid. “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in conjunction with federal, state, and local law enforcement, arrested 646 undocumented aliens – including 543 criminal aliens and seven documented gang members – during a week-long targeted enforcement operation conducted between February 23 and March 2 in the Houston area to bolster public safety, national security, and border security,” the statement read.
The sheer number of arrests—along with the nature of the criminals involved—was staggering. ICE emphasized the breadth of the operation, pointing out that 71 criminal arrest warrants were executed, and 543 of those arrested had been charged or convicted of criminal offenses while illegally present in the U.S. The agency didn’t hold back on detailing the severity of the crimes committed by the individuals captured in the raid.
Over 100 of the individuals arrested had a history of violent felony charges. According to ICE, 140 criminal aliens were either charged or convicted of serious crimes, including aggravated felonies such as homicide, aggravated assault, and domestic violence. These crimes are not mere offenses—they are violent acts that endanger American citizens and undermine the safety of communities across the country.
The arrest records also revealed disturbing details about the crimes committed by those detained. Thirty-four of the criminals had been involved in sexual offenses, including the aggravated sexual assault of minors, possession of child pornography, and even rape. These are not mere property crimes—they are heinous violations that, in many cases, involve vulnerable children.
ICE also reported that many of those arrested were involved in the illegal possession of firearms and narcotics. Thirty-eight individuals had been convicted of illegal firearms offenses, including unlawful carrying of a firearm, possession of a firearm by an alien, and aggravated assault with a firearm. Additionally, 52 criminal aliens were charged with drug trafficking or possession of controlled substances. The fact that illegal aliens are allowed to commit such serious offenses while still remaining in the country is a glaring example of the failure to enforce immigration laws effectively.
And the crime wave didn’t stop there. Another 51 individuals had been charged with property crimes such as burglary and theft. Even more troubling, nearly 100 of those arrested had DUI records, with 93 individuals being charged or convicted of driving while intoxicated. This underscores the danger posed by illegal aliens who, rather than contributing to society, are wreaking havoc on American communities.
Bret Bradford, the Director of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston Field Office, made a strong statement regarding the operation’s success. “In recent years, some of the world’s most dangerous fugitives, transnational gang members, and criminal aliens have taken advantage of the crisis at our nation’s southern border to illegally enter the U.S.,” Bradford said. “After illegally entering the country, many of these criminal aliens have gone on to commit violent crime and reign terror on law-abiding residents.”
Bradford’s message was clear: ICE is committed to protecting American citizens from the dangers posed by criminal aliens who have exploited the country’s weak immigration system. He continued, “Fueled by our unwavering commitment to protect the public from harm, and united in our determination to restore integrity to our nation’s system of laws, ICE and our law enforcement partners in Southeast Texas have banded together to remove these dangerous criminal aliens from our local communities and put an end to the lawlessness that they spread.”
Chad Plantz, ICE’s Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Houston, also commented on the success of the operation. “In just one week, working alongside our counterparts from federal, state, and local law enforcement, ICE HSI special agents successfully executed 71 criminal arrest warrants and made 554 administrative arrests,” Plantz said. He further highlighted that the operation included the arrest of human smugglers, gang members, human traffickers, child sex offenders, drug traffickers, and weapons traffickers.
Plantz emphasized the broader impact of the operation, stating, “These collective efforts have made our local communities significantly safer and strengthened our national security and border security.” He added, “We’ve sent a resounding message to transnational criminal organizations everywhere that the law enforcement community in the Texas Gulf Coast is more united than ever and will not rest until we’ve eradicated these criminal elements from the country.”
This massive raid is a victory for those who support a tough stance on illegal immigration and criminal justice. It’s a reminder that illegal aliens who commit crimes in the U.S. do not have a free pass. Law-abiding citizens deserve to feel safe in their communities, and the Trump Administration is working tirelessly to ensure that those who threaten public safety are held accountable.
