San Antonio ICE operation arrests 275 undocumented immigrants with criminal records
Another multi-agency operation has resulted in the arrest of 178 criminal foreign nationals in Texas, this time in San Antonio.
SAN ANTONIO - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced Tuesday the arrest of 275 undocumented immigrants—178 of whom have prior criminal convictions—during a seven-day enforcement operation in Texas aimed at what the agency described as “enhancing public safety.”
The operation, conducted between May 11-17, was led by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division out of San Antonio, and involved coordination with several federal and state law enforcement agencies.
Criminal aliens have taken advantage of our immigration laws for long enough,” said acting Field Office Director Sylvester M. Ortega in a statement. “Our mission to protect the American people is stronger than ever thanks to the hard work and dedication of ICE personnel out every day locating, arresting, and removing criminal aliens illegally present in our country.
The agency released several examples of those detained during the operation, highlighting individuals with extensive criminal records or pending charges. Among them:
- A 34-year-old man from Mexico, previously deported twice, who was arrested on May 14. He has a felony conviction for illegal reentry and is facing a second charge for the same offense.
- A 37-year-old Cuban national arrested on May 15 with past convictions for manufacturing and distributing heroin and methamphetamines, as well as marijuana sales. ICE noted he has also been arrested on forgery and drug possession charges.
- A 49-year-old Mexican national, also twice deported, taken into custody on May 15, with prior convictions for assault and battery, illegal reentry, and disturbing the peace.
- A 57-year-old Costa Rican national arrested May 16, who is wanted in Costa Rica for fraud.
ICE reported that other individuals arrested faced charges or convictions ranging from domestic violence and DUI to drug trafficking and weapons offenses.
The agency emphasized that the operation relied on cooperation from multiple entities, including the Texas Department of Public Safety, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Border Patrol, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
“These joint operations show the public what can be done when agencies work together toward a common goal of public safety,” Ortega added.
While ICE officials framed the arrests as part of a broader effort to remove individuals they describe as threats to communities, critics of the agency’s operations argue that such sweeps can cast too wide a net, ensnaring immigrants with minor infractions and fueling fear in immigrant communities.
ICE has not disclosed how many of the 275 individuals will face removal proceedings, remain in detention, or be released pending further action.
This latest enforcement push comes amid renewed debate in Washington over the role of immigration policy in national security, as Congress continues to wrestle with legislation addressing border enforcement, asylum protocols, and pathways to legal residency.
ICE has maintained that its priorities focus on individuals with criminal histories and recent border crossers. However, immigration advocates have long criticized what they call inconsistent and opaque enforcement tactics that often target nonviolent offenders or individuals with deep roots in the U.S.
As the 2024 presidential election cycle continues to cast a long shadow over immigration policy, actions like this one are likely to remain flashpoints in an already polarized national conversation.
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