U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that its Harlingen Field Office, working with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, made 238 arrests in a single-day operation in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, marking the largest single-day targeted arrest effort recorded by the office.
The operation took place on June 18 and focused on individuals with criminal histories and immigration violations, according to the agency.
ICE said the operation was conducted through its Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division and was aimed at increasing public safety by identifying, arresting, and removing illegal aliens who had criminal convictions or lacked legal status to remain in the United States.
ICE said the operation represented the largest number of targeted arrests completed in one day by the Harlingen field office.
Among those arrested were individuals with convictions for crimes including attempted kidnapping, sexual battery, drug possession, assault, weapons offenses, theft, driving under the influence, and illegal reentry into the United States.
ICE identified Manuel Morales-Geronimo, a Mexican national and alleged Paisas gang member, as one of those arrested.
The agency said his record included convictions for assault causing bodily injury, possession of controlled substances, driving while intoxicated, and multiple illegal reentry offenses.
Another individual identified by ICE was Jose Alfredo Castillo-Mendoza, a Mexican national who authorities said had convictions for attempted kidnapping, sexual battery, and illegal reentry.
Other arrests involved individuals with convictions connected to drug trafficking, possession of controlled substances, unlawful weapons possession, hit-and-run incidents, and repeated illegal entries into the country.
Some individuals could face additional federal charges for illegally reentering the United States.
“The ICE mission continues to focus on enhancing public safety and restoring integrity to our nation’s immigration system,” ICE Harlingen Field Office Director Juan Agudelo said. “We will stop at nothing to keep our American communities safe by removing one criminal illegal alien at a time.”
ICE officials said the agency continues conducting enforcement operations nationwide targeting individuals with criminal records and those without legal authority to remain in the country.
The announcement came as immigration enforcement operations faced increased attention following a fatal ICE-related shooting in Houston.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) directed the Texas Rangers to investigate the incident, while Houston Mayor John Whitmire (D) called for a temporary pause on certain ICE enforcement actions to allow additional law enforcement training.
A congressional field hearing was also scheduled to address concerns surrounding the shooting, according to The Center Square.
In addition to the arrests, ICE announced the removal of several convicted criminals from the United States last month.
Those removed included individuals convicted of sex crimes, drug trafficking, and murder.
ICE said one Liberian national was deported after convictions involving multiple sexual offenses and impaired driving, while another Liberian national was removed after convictions for aggravated sexual battery and child sex crimes.
ICE also reported removing a Brazilian national convicted of bestiality and charged with driving while intoxicated, a Colombian national convicted of drug trafficking, and a Mexican national convicted of second-degree murder and home invasion robbery.
The agency said the Mexican national had previously been deported three times before being removed again.
The record-setting arrests occurred amid broader immigration enforcement efforts under the Trump administration, with ICE emphasizing that operations are focused on individuals considered public safety concerns.
The agency encouraged members of the public to report crimes or suspicious activity through its official tip line or online reporting system.
