The deportations aren’t slowing down. They’re getting more intense by the day.
And now Trump’s admin has conducted a surprise ICE raid.
Massive ICE Operation in Houston Nets Hundreds of Criminal Migrants
In a sweeping enforcement action, federal immigration authorities recently detained several hundred criminal migrants over the course of just a few days in Houston, Texas. The operation, carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from February 23 to March 2, resulted in the arrest of 646 illegal migrants. According to an ICE press release, 543 of those apprehended were foreign nationals either charged or convicted of crimes while residing unlawfully in the United States. This large-scale effort marks another step in the Trump administration’s ongoing campaign to apprehend and deport illegal migrants with criminal records.
Bret Bradford, the Houston field office director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, addressed the significance of the operation in a prepared statement. “In recent years, some of the world’s most dangerous fugitives, transnational gang members and criminal aliens have taken advantage of the crisis at our nation’s southern border to illegally enter the U.S.,” he said. “After illegally entering the country, many of these criminal aliens have gone on to commit violent crime and reign terror on law-abiding residents.”
Bradford emphasized the collaborative resolve behind the effort. “Fueled by our unwavering commitment to protect the public from harm, and united in our determination to restore integrity to our nation’s system of laws, ICE and our law enforcement partners in Southeast Texas have banded together to remove these dangerous criminal aliens from our local communities and put an end to the lawlessness that they spread,” he added.
The arrests included a wide range of offenders. ICE reported that 140 of those detained were illegal migrants charged or convicted of aggravated felonies or violent crimes, such as homicide, aggravated assault, or domestic violence. Additionally, 52 individuals faced charges or convictions related to illicit narcotics offenses, including drug trafficking and possession of controlled substances. Another 34 were apprehended for s*x offenses or child s*x crimes, such as aggravated s*xual assault of a minor, possession of child p*rnography, or r*pe. The operation also netted numerous other illegal migrants allegedly tied to serious criminal activity. Among those taken into custody were documented gang members and human smugglers, delivering a significant blow to organized crime networks, according to the agency.
This Houston operation aligns with the Trump administration’s ambitious goal of executing the largest deportation initiative in U.S. history. Since taking office, the administration has moved swiftly, issuing directives and administrative orders to empower ICE agents in locating, apprehending, and deporting illegal migrants—particularly those with extensive criminal backgrounds. The pace of arrests under the current administration far surpasses that of the Biden White House. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that federal immigration authorities arrested over 20,000 illegal migrants during Trump’s first month back in office.
On his first day as president, Donald Trump signed several executive orders to address immigration enforcement. One declared an emergency at the southern border, authorizing military resources to curb the flow of illegal immigration. Another order opened up previously restricted “sensitive locations” for ICE operations, granting agents greater flexibility to carry out arrests. The administration also mobilized resources from nearly every federal agency to support immigration enforcement efforts—a strategy evident in the Houston sweep. Agencies such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI, the DEA, and the U.S. Marshals Service worked alongside ICE to execute the operation.
Chad Plantz, ICE Homeland Security Investigations Houston Special Agent in Charge, praised the joint effort. “In just one week working alongside our counterparts from federal, state and local law enforcement, ICE HSI special agents successfully executed 71 criminal arrest warrants and made 554 administrative arrests that included illegally present human smugglers, gang members, human traffickers, child s*x offenders, drug traffickers and weapons traffickers,” he said in a statement. “These collective efforts have made our local communities significantly safer and strengthened our national security and border security,” Plantz added.
The Houston operation stands as a clear demonstration of the Trump administration’s aggressive stance on immigration enforcement, targeting criminal elements within the illegal migrant population and leveraging interagency cooperation to achieve its objectives. As the campaign continues, federal authorities show no signs of slowing their efforts to address illegal immigration and its associated challenges.
Kristi Noem Appoints New Leadership to Steer ICE Under Trump Administration
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has selected a fresh leadership team to guide U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), signaling a shift in focus toward results and accountability as part of President Donald Trump’s administration. On Sunday, Noem named Todd Lyons as acting ICE director and Madison Sheahan as deputy director, bringing seasoned professionals into these key roles.
In her announcement, Noem emphasized the need for change within the agency. “For the past four years, our brave men and women of ICE were barred from doing their jobs—ICE needs a culture of accountability that it has been starved of under the Biden Administration,” she stated. “Todd Lyons and Madison Sheahan are work horses, strong executors, and accountable leaders who will lead the men and women of ICE to achieve the American people’s mandate to target, arrest and deport illegal aliens.”
According to a press release from the Department of Homeland Security, Todd Lyons currently holds the position of acting executive associate director of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). His career within the agency spans multiple roles, including assistant director of field operations for ERO. In that capacity, he managed all 25 field offices and domestic operations throughout the United States. Before that, Lyons served as the ERO field office director in Boston, overseeing activities across Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Vermont.
Lyons’ journey in federal service began in 1993 with the U.S. Air Force. After transitioning to civilian life, he entered law enforcement in Florida in 1999. He joined ICE as an ERO agent in Dallas, Texas, in 2007, marking the start of his long tenure with the agency.
Madison Sheahan, the newly appointed deputy director, brings her own extensive experience to the role. Sheahan and Noem share a history of collaboration, though her most recent position was as secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. There, she managed a $280 million budget and led a workforce of more than 800 employees across divisions dedicated to wildlife, fisheries, and enforcement. One of her notable achievements was creating the Special Operations Group within the enforcement division. This initiative prioritized public safety by forging unprecedented partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies during major events like Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl in New Orleans. In addition, Sheahan served as an advisor to Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry.
Before her time in Louisiana, Sheahan worked under then-South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem in several leadership capacities. These included roles within the state Republican Party and on special projects designed to advance Noem’s policy goals.
Kristi Noem’s path to leading the Department of Homeland Security began with her tenure as South Dakota governor, a position she held from January 2019 until January 2025. She assumed her current role as the nation’s eighth Homeland Security Secretary earlier this year, becoming the fourth Trump administration appointee to secure Senate confirmation. Now at the helm of the department, Noem faces the pressing tasks of strengthening border security and addressing illegal immigration—priorities that align with the new administration’s agenda.
With Lyons and Sheahan stepping into their roles, ICE is poised for a renewed emphasis on enforcement under Noem’s direction. Their combined expertise and leadership will play a pivotal part in shaping the agency’s efforts in the months ahead.
Stay tuned to the DC Daily Journal.
