U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Houston conducted a large-scale operation during the longest government shutdown, arresting over 3,500 undocumented immigrants with criminal convictions.
The six-week operation, from October 1 to November 12, resulted in the apprehension of individuals including child predators, murderers, gang members, and sex offenders, despite many agents working without pay. The arrested individuals included 67 sex offenders, 51 child predators, 13 murderers, 10 fugitives, and 23 gang members, with some belonging to groups like MS-13 and Paisas.
The operation also apprehended individuals with convictions for offenses such as driving while intoxicated, aggravated assault, weapons offenses, burglary, aggravated kidnapping, drug-related offenses, and human trafficking. Notable arrests included Brayan Josue Pineda-Ayala, an undocumented immigrant accused of a triple homicide in Dallas County shortly after being released into the U.S.
by the Biden administration, and Froilan Mejia Olveram, a twice-removed criminal alien and convicted rapist who was encountered by agents previously but not taken into custody due to enforcement guidelines. Other apprehended individuals were multiple-time removed child predators and those wanted for serious crimes in the U.S.
and abroad, underscoring ICE's commitment to public safety and national security.
