HOUSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 1,361 individuals with criminal records in the Houston area during June as part of a targeted immigration enforcement initiative focused on public safety, the agency announced.
All individuals arrested were in the country illegally and either currently face criminal charges or have been previously convicted of crimes. Among those detained were 32 individuals convicted of child sex offenses, nine with homicide-related convictions, and 16 identified members of transnational gangs or drug cartels.
One of the most notable arrests included Adermis Wilson-Gonzalez, 56, a Cuban national convicted in 2003 of hijacking a plane en route to Key West, Florida. He was taken into custody by ICE on June 29.
Other arrests included:
- Arnulfo Olivares Cervantes, 47, a former member of the Mexicles gang, who had been deported six times and convicted of attempted murder, cocaine trafficking, and other offenses.
- Luis Pablo Vasquez-Estolano, 29, who had been deported six times and convicted of homicide, robbery, and drug charges.
- Jose Meza, 40, who had illegally entered the U.S. four times and was convicted of sexually assaulting a minor.
- Javier Escobar Gonzalez, 51, with prior convictions for sexual indecency with a minor and unauthorized use of a firearm.
“Despite attempts by some to undermine our mission by spreading false and malicious rumors, the brave men and women of ICE continue to work tirelessly around the clock targeting dangerous criminal aliens,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston acting Field Office Director Gabriel Martinez. “The number of dangerous criminal aliens that they removed from local communities across Southeast Texas last month is just another example of their selfless and unyielding efforts.”
The arrests were carried out by the ICE Houston field office as part of its routine enforcement operations conducted in coordination with local, state, and federal partners throughout Southeast Texas.
ICE reported that these actions are part of ongoing efforts to address public safety and border security through the removal of individuals with serious criminal histories.
ICE’s June operation in Houston netted over 1,300 arrests, including violent offenders and gang members with repeated illegal entries.
