U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Houston conducted a weeklong operation that resulted in the arrest of 422 suspected illegal immigrants. The operation specifically targeted individuals considered threats to public safety, including suspects wanted for serious crimes such as murder and arson.
Fox News was granted exclusive access to the operation, observing ICE agents as they apprehended a man accused of murder in Colombia. According to ICE Houston Director Bret Bradford, this individual had previously been convicted of homicide in Colombia and sentenced to 21 years. He entered the U.S. illegally in February 2024, missed his court date, and was subsequently ordered to be removed by a U.S. immigration judge.
Among those arrested, 262 had prior criminal convictions and 34 faced pending criminal charges. Another 126 were detained for other immigration violations, and 229 had already received final orders of removal. The arrests included a 72-year-old Mexican national with convictions for homicide, robbery, shoplifting, and assault, who had been ordered to leave the U.S. in 2018.
During the sweep, ICE also apprehended Hector Castillo-Garcia, a twice-deported Mexican national with convictions for arson, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and driving while intoxicated. He attempted to evade arrest but was ultimately captured.
ICE’s Houston Field Office uses advanced data analysis to identify the most dangerous targets, focusing on those who pose the greatest threat to public safety and are most likely to be located and arrested. The agency has also implemented a new “hub and spoke” system to expedite removals, allowing for same-day processing and deportation for those with final orders of removal.
A breakdown of the criminal convictions among those arrested includes charges such as aggravated assault, burglary, narcotics offenses, sexual assault, and even murder. Five gang members or affiliates were also among those taken into custody.
ICE officials emphasized that these efforts are aimed at protecting public safety and making the removal process more efficient, ultimately saving taxpayer dollars. Officials say these operations are ongoing as they continue to focus on removing individuals who pose the highest risk to the community.