ICE arrests more than 350 gang members in Houston this year

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Houston have arrested more than 350 gang members who are also illegal migrants so far this year, the agency announced Friday.

The illegal migrants were part of more than 40 gangs, including members of MS-13, Tren de Aragua, Latin Kings and the Paisas gang. A total of 356 illegal gang members were arrested, with a total of 1,685 criminal convictions among them.

The arrests were part of the Trump administration's “worst of the worst" initiative, and the migrants collectively entered the United States illegally a total of 1,434 times, ICE said. One migrant illegally entered the country 40 times.

“Despite attempts by some to undermine the courageous work being done by our officers, the brave men and women of ICE continue to put their lives on the line every day to arrest violent transnational gang members, foreign fugitives and dangerous criminal aliens,” ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston acting Field Office Director Gabriel Martinez said in a statement.

"In just the past couple of years in Houston, transnational gang members were responsible for brutally raping and murdering an innocent 12-year-old girl on her way to the store," he continued. "Our officers know their efforts can help prevent atrocities like that from ever occurring again, and they won’t rest until they’re all gone.”

A breakdown of the arrests found that ICE officers in Houston apprehended 159 Paisas gang members, 39 MS-13 gang members, 26 Tango Blast gang members, 25 Tren de Aragua gang members, 12 Surenos-13 gang members and six Latin Kings gang members.

The criminal convictions include abduction, homicide, sexual assault, sexual assault of a child, promotion of child pornography, aggravated assault, domestic violence, burglary, sex trafficking, organized crime, drug trafficking, arson, illegal entry, illegal reentry and fraud, among others.

The arrests come as ICE ramps up its recruitment in light of new funding approved under the One Big Beautiful Bill. ICE has seen a surge in applications, reporting that 80,000 applications have already been received since its passage.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.