U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials near Laredo, Texas, arrested 44 illegal aliens—including 24 criminal aliens and one documented Paisas gang member—during a week-long, multi-agency operation.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the sting from April 6-12 to bolster public safety, national security, and border security.
The arrested individuals are either charged or convicted of various criminal offenses, including four criminal aliens convicted of driving while intoxicated, one convicted of theft, and six arrested for driving while intoxicated.
Additional charges include two convicted for evading arrest, five arrested for assault, and four arrested for possession of marijuana. Other convictions and arrests involve alien smuggling, illegal re-entry, sexual assault, possession of a controlled substance, burglary, possession of a firearm, and tampering with evidence, according to ICE.
“We remain committed to our mission of keeping communities safe by locating, arresting and removing criminal aliens who pose a threat to public safety and national security,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Harlingen acting Field Office Director Robert Cerna.
ICE will no longer exempt classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement. According to ICE officials, routine operations will continue in south Texas and the nation to apprehend and deport – if found removable by final order – aliens in violation of the nation’s immigration laws.
“The success of this targeted enforcement effort highlights the value of a comprehensive, multi-agency approach to ensuring public safety in our south Texas communities,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “We remain committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners and leveraging all available resources to protect our communities along the southern border.”
Located near the U.S.-Mexico border, Laredo often sees high levels of ICE activity. Officials have increased enforcement activity as part of the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration, human trafficking, and drug smuggling at the southern border.
ICE, a federal agency tasked primarily with immigration enforcement, conducts operations to detain and deport individuals they identify as unauthorized immigrants. These operations often involve workplace raids, targeted arrests, and broader sweeps in residential neighborhoods or public spaces.
Some of these criminal aliens will face additional criminal charges, removal to their home country or remain in ICE custody pending immigration proceedings.
