Immigration officers in Houston are working to make the city’s roads safer and remove repeat DWI offenders, highlighting their efforts in the wake of two deadly crashes in the city.
Two Mexican nationals suspected of driving drunk face charges for the deaths of two women in separate crashes in Houston and had immigration holds placed against them.
Manuel Neri Mendoza, 37, had two prior DWI convictions and reportedly ran a red light, killing a Houston grandmother last month. Mendoza was previously deported to Mexico and tried to flee the scene of the crash.
Manuel Neri Mendoza, who is on an immigration detainer, is accused of Murder in the alcohol related crash-death of Lakethia Montgomery. https://t.co/fheTS5BKIM pic.twitter.com/8FzxzjLSmN
— Illegal Alien Crimes (@ImmigrantCrimes) February 26, 2026
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged an arrest detainer for Mendoza with the Harris County Jail on Feb. 24, after he was arrested and charged with murder.
ICE also placed a detainer on Enrique Acevedo Barocio, a 27-year-old from Mexico, on Feb. 2 after he allegedly took off drunk and hit and killed a pedestrian in South Central Houston.
ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston has targeted drunk drivers in the Houston area, arresting 21 individuals convicted of intoxicated manslaughter and 243 repeat offenders with three or more DWI convictions in the past year.
DWIs-related offenses, including driving while intoxicated and causing deadly crashes, are among the top crimes for those with removal orders.
“After violating our nation’s laws to illegally enter the country, these criminal illegal aliens repeatedly put the lives of innocent Americans in jeopardy by getting behind the wheel intoxicated,” ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston acting Field Office Director Gabriel Martinez said in a news release. “Tragically, at least 23 families will wake up tomorrow without a loved one as a result of this reckless criminal behavior.”
A Harris County judge denied bond for Mendoza at his initial hearing, FOX 26 Houston reported. He is accused of killing Lakethia Montgomery in a suspected drunk-driving crash on Feb. 24 in Northwest Houston.
Montgomery, a 42-year-old grandmother and mother of two, sustained fatal injuries while driving to pick up her son from work, FOX 26 Houston reported. Her 3-year-old grandson was in the back seat but survived and was not injured.
According to the accident report, Mendoza ran a red light and crashed his pickup truck into Montgomery’s Mitsubishi Mirage sedan. A preliminary investigation determined the Mitsubishi had the right of way.
The Houston Chronicle reported the pickup truck pushed Montgomery’s sedan “a very long way through the intersection” before stopping on a curb, Houston Police Department Sgt. Rebecca Dallas said.
“The safety seats were tethered down in three different places, and there’s a lot of extensive damage done to this car,” Dallas said in a briefing filmed by OnScene TV. “And that baby was able to survive this wreck.”
Houston police said Mendoza showed signs of intoxication at the scene. He tried to flee on foot but was apprehended by officers.
Court records show several alcohol-related offenses for Mendoza from 2019, 2021 and 2022. The 2019 charge was dismissed but he had two prior DWI convictions.
ICE officials also called out the fact Mendoza attempted to flee the scene while the car he crashed into had a deceased driver and a 3-year-old child who was left alone until first responders arrived.
ICE Houston said it isn’t an isolated incident. The agency arrested 98 individuals in the past year who fled the scene of an accident and were convicted of failing to stop and give aid after an accident.
“It has become extremely common for criminal illegal aliens to flee from ICE and other law enforcement,” Martinez said. “This is a direct result of elected officials demonizing our officers and encouraging aliens to evade arrest.”
In early February, Barocio was reportedly driving a Ford Expedition at a high rate of speed when he struck a woman and several parked cars after leaving a bar, FOX 26 Houston reported.
The Houston Police Department responded and learned the woman was crossing the road after leaving a nearby bar. The 32-year-old victim was hit by the vehicle and carried down the road. Houston EMS arrived and pronounced her dead at the scene.
Authorities said Barocio showed signs of impairment and was leaving a different club before the crash, ABC13 News reported. The vehicle also struck five other vehicles parked on the street.
ICE Houston released the names of other repeat offenders arrested in the last year. Many of them have been removed multiple times and have prior convictions for intoxicated manslaughter or three or more DWIs.
Samuel Valenzuela-Martinez, 55, was deported five times to Mexico with three prior convictions for DWI and one for hit-and-run. He was convicted twice for aggravated assault and illegal entry, and once for fraud, larceny, cruelty toward a child, obstructing a criminal investigation, escape and felony illegal reentry. ICE removed Valenzuela-Martinez to Mexico on July 9, 2025.
Humberto Romero Avila, 46, has five previous removals back to Mexico and five convictions for DWI. Avila has also been convicted of larceny, illegal reentry and illegal entry, and was deported to Mexico by ICE on Feb. 13, 2025. He was turned over to Mexican authorities to be prosecuted for homicide.
Jose Jaudencio Coj Pocop, 32, from Guatemala, had prior convictions for intoxicated manslaughter, DWI, hit-and-run and assault. ICE removed Coj Pocop to Guatemala on Sept. 4, 2025.
Victor Manuel Carrillo-Arreazola, 43, is a 12-time removed illegal alien from Mexico who has been convicted of intoxicated manslaughter and illegal entry. ICE removed Carrillo-Arreazola to Mexico on Aug. 8, 2025.
Mario Salinas-Garza, 49, from Mexico has 10 removals and four DWI convictions. He has been convicted 10 times for drug possession, seven times for illegal reentry, twice for burglary and vehicle theft, and once for public order crimes. ICE removed Salinas-Garza to Mexico on June 23, 2025.
Jose Ibarra Manuel Gamez, 43, from Mexico, has been deported six times and convicted of four DWIs, twice for illegal entry and once for hit-and-run. ICE removed Gamez to Mexico on Aug. 23, 2025.
Jose Luis Mondragon-Mercado, 33, from Mexico has been deported four times and has convictions for three DWIs, four times for burglary, three times for illegal reentry, twice for refusing to aid an officer, and once for obstruction. ICE removed Mondragon-Mercado to Mexico on July 7, 2025.
Gerardo Abel Galvan, 46, is a four-time deported criminal from Mexico who has been convicted of eight DWIs, three times for fraud; twice each for illegal reentry, fleeing from officers, resisting arrest and aggravated assault; and once for larceny and public order crimes. ICE removed Galvan to Mexico on June 28, 2025.
