In a striking demonstration of federal law enforcement’s resolve, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials in Houston have arrested more than 350 individuals identified as gang members over a six-month period, according to a series of press releases and statements from ICE, as well as reporting by outlets such as Hoodline and Breitbart Texas. The operation, which unfolded during the first half of the Trump administration, targeted what authorities described as the "worst of the worst"—violent offenders and repeat border crossers whose collective criminal records are as staggering as they are sobering.
ICE’s Houston Enforcement and Removal Operations team revealed that these 356 arrestees had illegally entered the United States a combined 1,434 times. Their criminal convictions, nearly 1,700 in total, span an array of serious offenses: homicide, sexual assault, child pornography, aggravated assault, domestic violence, burglary, alien smuggling, sex trafficking, drug trafficking, arson, and more. According to ICE, the group includes convicted murderers, child predators, thieves, arsonists, and one individual who had illegally entered the country 40 times.
The scale and severity of the crimes connected to these arrests are underscored by the agency’s focus on public safety and national security. As Gabriel Martinez, Acting Field Office Director for Houston ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, put it, “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.” Martinez further emphasized the stakes, referencing past tragedies: “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. 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.”
The arrests cut across more than 40 different criminal organizations, including some of the most notorious gangs operating in the United States. Among them: 39 members of MS-13, 25 of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, 159 from the Paisas, 12 from Surenos-13, 26 from Tango Blast, and others from the Latin Kings and 15th Street Gang. The diversity of gangs represented highlights the transnational nature of the threat and the challenge facing law enforcement in Houston and beyond.
ICE provided details about several of the most egregious offenders:
- Milton Alexander Magana Fuentes, a 31-year-old child predator and Paisas gang member from El Salvador, was arrested on July 2, 2025. He had illegally entered the U.S. four times and racked up convictions for sexual indecency with a child, failure to register as a sex offender, illegal reentry, and illegal entry.
- Ronald Alberto Rivas-Aguilar, a 28-year-old MS-13 member from El Salvador, was apprehended on July 21, 2025, after two illegal entries. He had been convicted of homicide.
- Humberto Romero Avila, a 45-year-old Paisas member from Mexico, had entered the U.S. illegally 10 times before his arrest on January 31, 2025. He was deported on February 13, 2025, to Mexico, where he was wanted for homicide. In the U.S., his convictions included four DWIs, larceny, illegal reentry, and illegal entry.
- Jonathan Josue Valle-Moralez, a 31-year-old previously deported MS-13 member from El Salvador, was arrested on February 24, 2025. He had been convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm and was transferred to U.S. Marshals for homicide prosecution.
- Javier Ivan Montoya-Avila, a 34-year-old Paisas member from Mexico, was taken into custody on April 16, 2025, after 26 illegal entries. His convictions included burglary, tampering with government records, criminal trespass, illegal reentry, and illegal entry.
- Luis Fernando Nava-Garcia, a 20-year-old Paisas gang member from Mexico, set a record with 40 illegal entries. He was convicted twice for illegal reentry.
- Gerardo Ortega-Contreras, a 43-year-old previously deported Tango Blast member from Mexico, was arrested on June 26, 2025. His criminal history includes multiple convictions for resisting/evading arrest, DWI, obstructing investigation, burglary, hit-and-run, drug possession, assault, and larceny.
- Jose Angel Martinez, a 39-year-old child predator and Paisas gang member from Mexico, was arrested on May 7, 2025, with five illegal entries. His convictions spanned sexual indecency with a minor, aggravated assault, resisting arrest, burglary, drug possession, and obstructing police.
Other arrestees included individuals with convictions for sexual assault of a child, promotion of child pornography, aggravated assault, domestic violence, alien smuggling, organized crime, arson, trespassing, unlawful possession of a firearm, fraud, and escape. The sheer range of offenses paints a picture of individuals who, ICE argues, pose a clear and ongoing threat to communities in the Houston area and, by extension, the country at large.
ICE’s operation has been part of the Trump administration’s broader campaign to restore what it calls "integrity to the nation’s immigration system." The agency has made a point of publicizing its high-profile arrests, using both press releases and social media to highlight the dangers posed by transnational gangs and to rally support for its enforcement efforts. According to ICE, the arrests serve not only as a removal of immediate threats but also as a deterrent to would-be offenders.
For those concerned about ongoing criminal activity, ICE encourages citizens to report suspected immigration violations and other suspicious behavior through a dedicated hotline (866-347-2423) or via an online tip form. The agency is also actively recruiting, offering positions such as deportation officers, criminal investigators, and attorneys. ICE touts competitive salaries, sign-on bonuses, flexible schedules, tuition reimbursement, transportation subsidies, and health and wellness programs as part of its employment package.
While supporters of the operation point to the removal of dangerous criminals from the streets as a clear win for public safety, critics argue that such enforcement actions can create an atmosphere of fear within immigrant communities and may sweep up individuals with less serious offenses. The agency, for its part, maintains that its focus remains squarely on those with the most serious criminal records and repeated illegal entries.
The Houston operation stands as one of the largest and most comprehensive gang enforcement actions in recent memory, at least in terms of the number of individuals apprehended and the breadth of criminal activity addressed. According to ICE, these efforts represent just one part of an ongoing campaign to "bolster public safety and national security," a mission that, judging by these numbers, is both urgent and ongoing.
As the debate over immigration enforcement continues both in Texas and nationally, the impact of these arrests will likely be felt for months—if not years—to come, shaping the conversation about crime, border security, and the role of federal agencies in local communities.