In June, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement apprehended 1,361 illegal immigrants in the Houston vicinity, among whom were individuals previously convicted of crimes such as hijacking an airplane, homicide, and sexual assault, according to the agency.

ICE stated in a press release that the immigrants arrested in June in Houston are either facing charges or have been convicted of criminal offenses.

Among those arrested, 32 had prior convictions for child sex offenses, nine for murder-related offenses, and 16 are suspected of being members of gangs or drug cartels. One individual was convicted of hijacking a plane on its way from Cuba to Key West, Florida.

Gabriel Martinez, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston acting field office director, said some people tried to derail their mission.

Deportation officers from ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston Field Office arrest David Antonio Lazo-Alvarenga, a 42-year-old criminal alien from El Salvador, June 12, in Houston. (ICE)

Among those arrested by ICE are: 

– 56-year-old Adermis Wilson-Gonzalez, convicted in 2003 of hijacking an airplane.

– 47-year-old Arnulfo Olivares Cervantes, convicted of trafficking cocaine, attempted murder, evading arrest, illegal entry and drug possession. According to ICE, he has entered the U.S. six times illegally.

– 29-year-old Luis Pablo Vasquez-Estolano, convicted of homicide, aggravated robbery, burglary of a vehicle and drug possession.

U.S. soldiers take measures at the Mexican border in New Mexico on May 8, 2025. (Can Hasasu/Anadolu via Getty Images)

– 40-year-old Jose Meza, convicted of sexual assault of a minor and theft.

– 51-year-old Javier Escobar Gonzalez, convicted of sexual indecency with a minor, criminal trespass with a deadly weapon, driving while intoxicated and unauthorized use of a firearm.