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Emigration and immigration

ICE Houston Arrests 822 Criminal Aliens, Transnational Gang Members, and Child Predators in Southeast Texas Operation

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A weeklong operation between August 17 and 23 focused on enhancing public safety in Southeast Texas saw the arrest of 822 criminal aliens, transnational gang members, and child predators by ICE Houston. The operation is part of the Trump administration's focus on restoring public safety to local communities by targeting the "worst of the worst" criminal aliens and those who violate federal immigration laws. The arrested individuals include five transnational gang members, seven child predators, and three criminal aliens convicted of homicide-related offenses.

Key Takeaways:

  • The operation resulted in the arrest of 822 criminal aliens, including five transnational gang members, seven child predators, and three criminal aliens convicted of homicide-related offenses.
  • Among the arrested individuals were Jorge Eliseo Torres-Soto, a 30-year-old criminal alien and child predator from Guatemala, who was convicted of sexual assault of a child in October 2024; Manuel Ivan Castillo Estrada, a 36-year-old, three-time deported criminal alien and child predator from Mexico, who was convicted of alien smuggling in November 2011 and sexually assaulting a minor in February 2024; and Lloyd Tinashe Hwehwe, a 36-year-old criminal alien and convicted murderer from Zimbabwe, who was convicted of driving while intoxicated and intoxication manslaughter in 2015 and illegally reentered the U.S. after being deported.
  • Three hundred and thirty of the aliens arrested during the operation have previously been ordered removed from the U.S. and approximately 112 have been deported and illegally reentered the U.S. at least once.
  • Numerous law enforcement agencies assisted ICE during the weeklong operation, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the DEA, the ATF, the Diplomatic Security Service, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
  • The operation aimed to restore public safety to local communities by targeting the "worst of the worst" criminal aliens and those who violate federal immigration laws.

Statistics:

  • 822 criminal aliens, transnational gang members, and child predators were arrested during the operation.
  • 3,330 aliens arrested during the operation have previously been ordered removed from the U.S.
  • 112 aliens have been deported and illegally reentered the U.S. at least once.
  • 20 federal agencies assisted ICE during the weeklong operation.

Sources:

  • US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Aug. 25, 2025)
  • ICEgovERO (Twitter) (Aug. 22-25, 2025)
  • @EROHouston (Twitter) (Aug. 22-25, 2025)

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