Details have emerged about the apprehension of illegal immigrant child sex offenders by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the Houston region over the past six months. Under the Trump Administration, the Houston ICE Field Office has detained 214 illegal immigrants accused or found guilty of sex offenses involving minors.
This figure surpasses the total number of people the Houston Field Office apprehended during the entire 2024 fiscal year, during which 211 illegal immigrants were charged or convicted of child sex offenses, as reported by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Of the 214 criminal illegal immigrants arrested, 179 had final orders of removal from an immigration judge. 141 have already been removed.
“Thanks to ICE Houston, 214 fewer pedophiles are on our streets. These are the kind of depraved predators ICE is focusing on deporting from our nation,” asserted DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “President Trump and Secretary Noem are committed to ensuring these offenders cannot victimize children in the U.S. Our message to them is simple: LEAVE NOW. If you fail to comply, we will find and deport you.”
The ICE ERO Houston Field Office has arrested numerous individuals accused or convicted of child sex offenses in the last six months, including:
Gabriel Julio Velazquez Lopez, 25, illegally entered the U.S. four times since 2016. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
Gabriel Julio Velazquez Lopez, a 25-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico, was found guilty of sexual assault of a child and assault with the intent to rape. He unlawfully entered the U.S. on four occasions since 2016. ICE detained him on April 8th, and he was deported by April 10, 2025.
Carlos Alfredo Lopez Espinal, 45, was arrested by ICE on July 18, 2025. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
Carlos Alfredo Lopez Espinal, a 45-year-old illegal immigrant from El Salvador, was convicted of sexual indecency with a minor in March 2025. He was apprehended by ICE on July 18, 2025.
Meliton Gonzalez, 76, was deported by ICE on June 12th, after serving time in Texas. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
Meliton Gonzalez, a 76-year-old criminal illegal immigrant from Mexico, was convicted of child sexual assault in 2015 and sentenced to 10 years. Gonzalez has been illegally in the country since 1976. He was deported by ICE on June 12th, after serving time in Texas.
Mario Ramirez Martinez, 71, served 10 years in prison; arrested by ICE and deported Jun 2, 2025. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
Mario Ramirez Martinez, a 71-year-old criminal illegal immigrant from Mexico, was convicted of two counts of sexual assault of a child in Hidalgo County, Texas. He served 10 years in prison; arrested by ICE and deported June 2, 2025.
