A coordinated law enforcement operation involving local, state, and federal agencies led to the arrest of over 500 criminal aliens in the Houston area between February 23 and March 3, according to officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Among those taken into custody were seven documented gang members.

A spokesman from the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Houston Field Office confirmed that the week-long operation aimed to enhance public safety, national security, and border enforcement.

The raids were carried out by multiple agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the U.S. Marshals Service, and other state and local law enforcement entities.

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According to an official statement released Monday afternoon, a total of 646 individuals were apprehended, including 543 criminal aliens.

The operation also resulted in 71 criminal arrest warrants being executed.

ICE officials reported that those arrested had been either charged with or convicted of various offenses, including:

• 140 individuals charged or convicted of aggravated felonies or violent crimes such as homicide, aggravated assault, or domestic violence.
• 34 individuals charged or convicted of sex offenses, including aggravated sexual assault of a minor, possession of child pornography, or rape.
• 38 individuals convicted of illegal firearms offenses, such as unlawful carrying of a firearm and aggravated assault with a firearm.
• 52 individuals charged or convicted of drug-related offenses, including trafficking and possession of controlled substances.
• 51 individuals charged or convicted of property crimes, such as burglary and theft.
• 93 individuals charged or convicted of driving while intoxicated.

ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston Field Office Director Bret Bradford emphasized the ongoing issue of criminal aliens entering the U.S. and engaging in illegal activities.

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“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 stated.

“After illegally entering the country, many of these criminal aliens have gone on to commit violent crimes and reign terror on law-abiding residents. 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, Special Agent in Charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations Houston, echoed Bradford’s remarks, highlighting the significance of the operation in securing communities.

“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 that included illegally present human smugglers, gang members, human traffickers, child sex offenders, drug traffickers, and weapons traffickers,” Plantz said.

“These collective efforts have made our local communities significantly safer and strengthened our national security and border security. As a result, 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.”

The Houston-area raids are part of a broader enforcement effort launched following the inauguration of President Donald Trump in January. ICE has intensified operations in Texas, targeting criminal aliens and illegal workers.

Last week, ICE Homeland Security Investigations conducted a workplace enforcement operation in Spring, Texas, a Houston suburb.

That operation resulted in the arrest of 20 illegal aliens working without proper documentation.

In February, ICE conducted a raid at Colony Ridge, the state’s largest migrant settlement, located about 45 minutes north of Houston.

During that operation, agents arrested a three-time deported Salvadoran man wanted for child sex-assault charges, as well as a seven-time deported MS-13 gang member.

Additionally, a separate ICE raid in the same area led to the seizure of 344 pounds of methamphetamine and the arrest of three illegal aliens suspected of drug trafficking.

As federal and state agencies continue to coordinate enforcement efforts, law enforcement officials have reiterated their commitment to removing dangerous individuals from U.S. communities.