HOUSTON, Texas – Federal officials say more than 1,500 criminals, including gang members, sexual predators, and convicted felons, were arrested in what’s being called ICE’s largest operation of the year so far.
The arrests are part of an ongoing crackdown targeting undocumented offenders across the Houston area and beyond.
But the operation is sparking mixed reactions in some communities, particularly in Houston’s East End, where residents have witnessed immigration agents making arrests.
Bail bondsman Mario Garza said the intensity of the enforcement efforts has surprised many.
“I have had some conversations with people that have expressed they didn’t know it was going to be like this,” Garza said.
Community advocates say the operation’s scale is raising concerns about its long-term impact.
Sergio Lira, with Greater Houston LULAC, says while removing violent criminals makes sense, he worries about the broader effects on immigrant families.
“Greater Houston LULAC is viewing that this is an overreach of tactics and this is harming our community in the long run,” Lira said.
While ICE touts the arrests as a public safety victory, some local officials acknowledge that the balance between justice and immigration enforcement can be complicated.
Wesley Wittig with the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office says holding criminals accountable is vital, but deportations can sometimes interfere with that process.
“If law enforcement is arresting wanted criminals, that is good for our community. Period,” Wittig said.“However, if immigration is taking folks who are wanted locally out, then we can’t always get justice for our victims when people are removed.”
Garza agrees, saying that once someone is transferred directly to a detention center, they may never face trial for crimes committed locally.
“If they take them directly to the detention center, then they don’t face any justice here; they get deported,” he said.
A local district attorney confirmed that, in some cases, individuals have been deported before their cases were fully resolved, though most involved misdemeanor offenses.
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