More than 350 criminal illegal gang members are off the streets in the Houston area and being processed for removal from the United States.
As a group, the gangbangers have illegally entered the U.S. 1,434 times and have been convicted of 1,685 crimes. Those arrested were convicted murderers, child predators, thieves and arsonists, and one alien who illegally entered the U.S. 40 times.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced the 356 arrests as part of its “worst of the worst” roundup. Led by ICE Houston, the arrests took place across the Houston metro area during the first six months of the Trump administration.
The coordinated, multiagency effort is part of a nationwide focus to restore integrity to the nation’s immigration system and bolster public safety and national security.
“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,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston acting Field Office Director Gabriel Martinez.
The 1,685 criminal convictions were for a wide variety of offenses, including:
- abduction
- homicide
- sexual assault
- sexual assault of a child
- promotion of child pornography
- aggravated assault
- domestic violence
- burglary
- alien smuggling
- sex trafficking
- organized crime
- drug trafficking
- drug possession
- arson
- trespassing
- unlawful possession of a firearm
- illegal entry and illegal reentry
- fraud
- escape and evading arrest
Last week, ICE Houston arrested six illegal immigrants who, as a group, illegally entered the U.S. 42 times and were convicted of 48 criminal offenses, according to an ICE news release.
In total, ICE arrested members of more than 40 different gangs: 39 MS-13 gang members, 25 Tren de Aragua gang members, 15th Street Gang members, 6 Latin Kings gang members, 159 Paisas gang members, 12 Surenos-13 gang members and 26 Tango Blast gang members.
“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,” Martinez said. “Our officers know their efforts can help prevent atrocities like that from every occurring again and they won’t rest until they’re all gone.”
Some of the worst offenders taken off the streets over the past six months were:
- Milton Alexander Magana Fuentes, a 31-year-old child predator and Paisas gang member from El Salvador. He has illegally entered the U.S. four times. His criminal convictions include 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 gang member from El Salvador. He illegally entered the U.S. twice and has been convicted of homicide.
- Humberto Romero Avila, a 45-year-old Paisas gang member from Mexico. He illegally entered the U.S. 10 times. On Feb. 13, ICE deported Romero Avila to Mexico, where he was wanted for homicide. While he was in the U.S., Romero Avila was convicted of four DWIs, as well as larceny, illegal reentry and illegal entry.
- Jonathan Josue Valle-Moralez, a 31-year-old previously deported MS-13 gang member from El Salvador. He’s been convicted of unlawful possession of a firearm. On March 6, ICE transferred Valle-Moralez into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to be prosecuted for homicide.
- Javier Ivan Montoya-Avila, a 34-year-old Paisas gang member from Mexico. He illegally entered the U.S. 26 times and has been convicted of burglary, tampering with government records, criminal trespass, illegal reentry and illegal entry.
- Jose Angel Martinez, a 39-year-old child predator and Paisas gang member from Mexico. He illegally entered the U.S. five times and has been convicted of sexual indecency with a minor, aggravated assault of a family member, resisting arrest, burglary, drug possession and obstructing police.
- Luis Fernando Nava-Garcia, a 20-year-old Paisas gang member from Mexico. He illegally entered the U.S. 40 times and has been convicted twice for illegal reentry.
- Gerardo Ortega-Contreras, 43-year-old previously deported Tango Blast gang member from Mexico. He has been convicted five times for resisting/evading arrest, four times for DWI, three times each for obstructing an investigation and burglary; twice for hit-and-run, and once each for drug possession, assault and larceny.
- Juan Manuel Cayetano-Vasquez, a 48-year-old Surenos-13 gang member from Mexico. He illegally entered the U.S. 13 times and has six convictions for drug possession charges and three times for resisting arrest; twice each for domestic violence, assault and identity theft; and once each for false imprisonment, illegal entry, illegal reentry, battery and destroying evidence.
- Jonathan Morales-Abundis, a 30-year-old Surenos-13 gang member from Mexico. He illegally entered the U.S. 29 times and has been convicted three times for illegal reentry, and once for alien smuggling and illegal entry.
- Jose Pizano-Tierrablanca, a 33-year-old Surenos-13 gang member from Mexico. He illegally entered the U.S. four times and has been convicted of sexual indecency with a minor and illegal entry.
- Samuel Valenzuela Martinez, a 55-year-old Paisas gang member from Mexico. He illegally entered the U.S. five times and has been convicted six times for DWI, three times each for assault and illegal entry, and once each for hit-and-run, larceny, cruelty toward a child, evading arrest, fraud and illegal reentry.
- Luis Alberto Hernandez, a 46-year-old Latin Kings gang member from Mexico. He illegally entered the U.S. three times and has been convicted four times for domestic violence, three times for illegal reentry, twice for aggravated assault, and once each for drug trafficking, unlawful possession of a firearm, obstructing police, disorderly conduct, drug possession, interfering with a 911 emergency call and child abuse.
- Juan Pablo Hernandez Ramos, a 35-year-old child predator and Paisas gang member from Mexico. He was deported from the U.S. three times and has been convicted of possession with intent to promote child pornography, sexual assault, aggravated assault, illegal entry and illegal reentry.
Last week, ICE Houston arrested six illegal immigrants who, as a group, illegally entered the U.S. 42 times and were convicted of 48 criminal offenses, according to an ICE
Many of these criminals have brazenly violated U.S. immigration laws and continued to commit crimes for the past 20 years, “wreaking havoc in our local communities and leaving countless victims in their wake,” Martinez added.
Members of the public can report suspected violations of U.S. immigration law and other suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
