Man Who Illegally Entered The U.S. 39 Times Among Migrants Deported by ICE in Texas

A two-week immigration enforcement operation in Houston, Texas resulted in the deportation of 174 individuals with criminal records to Mexico, including a man who had unlawfully entered the U.S. 39 times, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said.

The operation took place between March 17 and March 28, and targeted individuals deemed high-risk due to repeated immigration violations and serious criminal convictions.

Offenses included two homicide-related convictions, four for rape or sexual assault, five for child sex crimes, and dozens for drug trafficking, aggravated assault, and human smuggling. The highest number of convictions—146—were for driving while intoxicated. Among those deported were 24 alleged gang members, according to ICE's official statement.

"This is just a small snapshot of the amazing work that the brave men and women at ICE do every day to enhance public safety in Southeast Texas," said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston Field Office Director Bret Bradford through the aforementioned statement. "Each day they put their lives on the line to apprehend and remove dangerous criminal aliens, transnational gang members and foreign fugitives who have illegally entered the U.S. and are preying on innocent, hardworking Texans."

One deported individual, a 36-year-old Mexican national, had been removed from the U.S. 39 times and had multiple convictions, including illegal entry, DWI, drug possession, and fraud.

Another one, a 48-year-old from Mexico, had been removed from the U.S. 13 times and has 25 criminal convictions including seven for narcotics offenses, six for resisting arrest, two for identity theft, two for domestic violence, two for assault, and once for battery, larceny, kidnapping, illegal entry, illegal reentry, and destruction of evidence.

A report from The Texas Tribune revealed that Houston police have been instructed to contact federal immigration authorities if they encounter individuals with deportation orders listed in the national crime database, citing an email from Executive Chief Thomas Hardin.

"The email said officers must call federal authorities when they discover a hit in the federal system," with Hardin later telling officers to "consult with federal authorities on how to handle the situation, including remaining at the scene for ICE to arrive."