In an unprecedented two-week ICE operation in Houston, Texas, from May 19 to May 30, 2025, 142 illegal aliens were apprehended and deported. The illegals were convicted of 473 offenses, and their group included 11 child predators, eight gang members, and one individual who illegally entered the U.S. 21 times.
For context, Donald Trump has made securing the border an essential part of his promise to America, and once he took office, he immediately began sweeping reforms. With the help of immigration Czar Tom Homan, Trump has done more to end illegal immigration than any president in recent history.
In any case, Bret Bradford, ICE ERO Houston Field Office Director, explained that while the scope of the operation was unique, the criminals it found were not. He stated that, “Unfortunately, this is not an anomaly. For the past few years, there was virtually no deterrent to illegally entering the country.”
Explaining the consequences of Biden’s weakness, Bradford said, “As a result, millions of illegal aliens poured into the country, including violent criminal aliens, child predators, transnational gang members and foreign fugitives.”
Continuing to contextualize the problem with border security, he stated, “This is just a small snapshot of those efforts as it only focuses on deportations to one country over the course of a two-week period, but it gives you an idea of how big this problem really is.”
Celebrating the historic operation, Andrew Mahaleris, speaking for Governor Greg Abbott, said, “The deportation of the 142 criminal illegal immigrants in Houston reveals a far deeper crisis unfolding across our nation—one that poses a direct threat to public safety, national security, and the rule of law.”
Thanking Trump for his commitment to security, the spokesman stated, “President Trump is stepping up where Joe Biden failed. Texas will continue to assist the Trump Administration in arresting, detaining, and deporting illegal immigrants.”
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Concluding his sweeping endorsement of Trump’s actions, he said, “President Trump’s deportation efforts are making Texas safer. Governor Abbott is grateful to finally have an administration upholding the rule of law in our country.”
Echoing the previous statement, Texas Public Policy Foundation fellow Ammon Blair wrote, “The 142 represents only a sliver of the 650,000 criminal aliens currently on ICE’s Non-Detained Docket, free to move through American communities with impunity.”
Still not done explaining the major risk to his state, Blair explained how, “Texas has become the front line in this crisis, not just geographically, but constitutionally. Nearly 100 counties in Texas have issued disaster declarations or formally declared an invasion, not for political theater, but because cartel operations, weaponized mass migration, and the release of violent offenders have made every community in Texas vulnerable. This is not a policy disagreement. It is a public safety emergency.”
Offerring vital context, ICE published a description of the criminals they apprehended including, “Jose Antonio Mauricio-Rodriquez, a 32-year-old criminal alien and documented Paisas gang member, deported to Mexico May 27, who has illegally entered the U.S. 11 times and been convicted of assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence, failure to provide an ID to law enforcement, failure to report to his parole officer, and illegal reentry twice.”