ICE Conducts Major Operation in Texas, Resulting in Over 4,000 Arrests

A significant immigration operation orchestrated by the five Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field offices in Texas concluded on Friday, resulting in 4,170 arrests over a span of just ten days, announced the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) during a press briefing held in Dallas.

The initiative, termed 'Lone Star Mission,' took place from October 19 to 29 and included participation from the offices in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, and Harlingen, with assistance from both state and local law enforcement agencies. Dallas witnessed the highest number of arrests, with nearly 900 individuals taken into custody.

"Thanks to the Texas law enforcement and our federal partners, we were able to apprehend murderers, sexual offenders, drunk drivers, and human traffickers during this operation," stated Markwayne Mullin, Secretary of Homeland Security, while discussing the operation's outcomes.

'Lone Star Mission' and Its Broader Implications

The 'Lone Star Mission' is just one of the numerous developments shaping the current immigration landscape. Stay informed about arrests, deportations, and ICE policies through our U.S. Immigration section.

Mullin described the mission as an "incredible success," attributing it directly to the leadership of former President Donald Trump: "Thanks to President Trump, ICE has been fully empowered to target criminal illegal aliens and make America safe again."

However, DHS statistics present a more nuanced picture. According to the agency, about 60% of those detained had criminal records, indicating that the remaining 40%—approximately 1,668 individuals—were not the intended targets of the executed warrants. Mullin referred to this segment as "collateral damage" of the operation, justifying their arrests by noting that illegal entry into the country constitutes a violation: "Technically, they already had a criminal record," he asserted.

The DHS did not release a comprehensive breakdown of the backgrounds or convictions of the 4,170 detainees. A previous investigation by the Houston Chronicle, using public information requests, had revealed that the majority of Texans arrested by ICE had no criminal convictions.

Notable Arrests During the Operation

Among the significant cases highlighted by the DHS were Javier Hernández Alcón, a Mexican national deported twice before and arrested in Liberty on October 20, with convictions for burglary and illegal reentry; Orlando Aguilar, detained in Dallas on October 24 with convictions for aggravated assault while intoxicated using a vehicle; and Ramón Antonio Martínez, a Honduran arrested in Houston on October 23 and wanted in his home country in connection with a suspected homicide. Also apprehended was Víctor Manuel Macías-Castro, identified as a member of the La Línea Cartel, in El Paso.

ICE's Presence and Future Plans in Texas

Texas ranks as the state with the highest number of ICE arrests nationwide. Mullin reported that during the fiscal year 2026—from October 2025 to September of this year—the agency conducted over 136,000 arrests in the state, underscoring the intensity of the Trump administration's immigration policy. By October 2026, more than 29,000 local police officers in Florida and Texas were collaborating with ICE through 287(g) program agreements.

"You will continue to see these targeted actions, but we work as hard as we can with the resources we have," Mullin noted when asked about the continuation of such operations.