A previously deported Mexican national with a history of child sexual assault has been arrested in Texas by federal immigration authorities.
Jose Luis Morales Huerta, 51, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Dallas field office on August 25. According to ICE, Huerta has a prior conviction for aggravated sexual assault of a child, and he now faces additional charges in Dallas County.
Authorities confirmed that Huerta has an active warrant in Texas for three new counts of sexual assault of a child, as well as a federal warrant for violating the terms of his supervised release. ICE officials stated that Huerta has been previously deported from the United States twice, though the dates of those removals were not disclosed.
Due to the nature of his offenses and his repeated reentry into the country, Huerta was identified as a top priority for arrest and removal. While ICE did not release further details about the original conviction or the circumstances surrounding the new allegations, officials emphasized the ongoing danger posed by repeat offenders.
Immigration enforcement agencies routinely prioritize the removal of individuals convicted of crimes involving children. According to ICE, individuals like Huerta represent an urgent threat to public safety and are the focus of targeted operations led by local field offices.
ICE officials have continuously noted that arrests of previously deported individuals with active warrants and sex crime convictions remain a top enforcement priority as part of the Worst of the Worst doctrine. Cases involving sexual predators, particularly those targeting children, are routinely escalated due to the public safety risks they pose. Morales Huerta’s history and outstanding charges made him a high-priority target for removal.
ICE confirmed that Huerta remains in agency custody pending further immigration proceedings and coordination with federal and local law enforcement partners in Texas.
His arrest comes amid a broader national push to remove noncitizens with criminal histories, particularly those with prior deportations, active warrants, or sex offense convictions. ICE field offices have ramped up enforcement in recent months as part of a renewed focus on interior operations targeting fugitives and repeat border violators.
