45 arrested in ICE operation in south and central Texas

SAN ANTONIO (Texas News Radio) — Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 45 illegal aliens in south and central Texas during a five-day operation, which ended Thursday.

The agency said most of those arrests were made in the Rio Grande Valley, with 24 people taken in.  Agents also arrested 10 people in Austin, eight in San Antonio, and three in Waco.

Of the 45 arrested, 41 were men and four were women coming from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Malaysia.

ICE said 40 of those arrested had prior criminal histories.  Some of the crimes they had been convicted or accused of varied greatly from assault, child fondling and alien smuggling to marijuana possession and failure to report a crash.

Four of the arrested were fugitives with a final order of removal, 27 others had illegally re-entered the United States after being deported.

“ERO enforces the nation’s civil immigration laws with direct significance for our national security, public safety, border integrity and immigration controls,” said ICE San Antonio Field Office Director Daniel A. Bible. “This proactive law enforcement operation thwarted the efforts of criminal aliens and provided a public service opportunity for the men and woman of ERO to protect our communities through efficient enforcement strategies.”

Arrest examples include:

• Sept. 20: ICE officers arrested a previously removed 35-year-old Mexican illegal alien in Mercedes, Texas. He is an active “Paises” gang member.  He has criminal convictions for assault of a family member, and for driving while intoxicated (DWI).  He also has four separate convictions for illegal entry into the United States.  He also has two felony convictions for illegal re-entry after deportation; he was sentenced to 18 months and 29 months, respectively, in federal prison.  He is currently pending federal prosecution for re-entry after deportation.
• Sept. 22: ICE officers arrested a twice-previously removed 37-year-old Mexican illegal alien in Raymondville, Texas.  He has two DWI criminal convictions.  His prior removal was reinstated, and he was removed from the United States Sept. 22, 2019.
• Sept. 23: ICE officers arrested a 46-year-old Mexican illegal alien in Alamo, Texas.  He has two separate DWI criminal convictions.  On June 4, 2013, a federal immigration judge ordered him removed from the United States.  ICE officers effected the judge’s order by removing him to Mexico Sept. 23, 2019.
• Sept. 23: ICE officers arrested a 48-year-old Mexican U.S. permanent resident in Alamo, Texas.  He has a criminal conviction for aiding and abetting/transportation of an unlawful alien within the United States for which he was sentenced to nine months confinement.  He also has criminal convictions for two offenses of indecency with a child by sexual contact.  Due to his criminal convictions, he is amenable to removal from the United States.  He remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
• Sept. 24: ICE officers arrested a 66-year-old Mexican U.S. permanent resident in Waco, Texas.  He has a criminal conviction for indecency with a child for which he was sentenced to 10 years’ probation/10 years house arrest.  Due to his criminal conviction, he is amenable to removal from the United States.  He remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.