HARLINGEN, Texas — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced Tuesday that its Harlingen Field Office arrested 238 undocumented immigrants during a single-day enforcement operation in South Texas, setting what the agency described as a record for targeted arrests in the Rio Grande Valley.
According to ICE, the June 18 operation focused on individuals with criminal histories and was carried out alongside federal, state and local law enforcement partners. Officials said several of those arrested had prior convictions for violent crimes, drug offenses and immigration-related violations.
ICE Calls Operation a Record for Targeted Arrests
ICE said the operation marked the highest number of targeted arrests completed in a single day by Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Harlingen.
Among those taken into custody were individuals previously convicted of offenses including attempted kidnapping, sexual battery, drug possession and illegal reentry into the United States.
“The ICE mission continues to focus on enhancing public safety and restoring integrity to our nation’s immigration system,” Harlingen Field Office Director Juan Agudelo said in a statement.
“We will stop at nothing to keep our American communities safe by removing one criminal illegal alien at a time,” Agudelo added.
Authorities Highlight Arrests of Repeat Offenders
ICE identified one of those arrested as Manuel Morales-Geronimo, a Mexican national whom authorities described as a member of the Paisas gang.
According to the agency, Morales-Geronimo had prior convictions for assault causing bodily injury, possession of a controlled substance, marijuana possession, driving while intoxicated, illegal entry into the United States and three separate counts of illegal reentry.
Officials also announced the arrest of Jose Alfredo Castillo-Mendoza, another Mexican national. ICE said Castillo-Mendoza had previous convictions for attempted kidnapping, sexual battery and illegal reentry into the country.
Immigration Enforcement Remains a Priority
The announcement comes as the Trump administration continues to emphasize immigration enforcement and the removal of noncitizens with criminal records.
Federal officials say operations like the one in Harlingen are intended to identify and arrest individuals considered public safety threats while enforcing U.S. immigration laws.
The operation was conducted with assistance from multiple law enforcement agencies, although ICE did not release additional details about participating departments.
Trump Defends ICE Traffic Stops
The arrests were announced the same day President Donald Trump criticized reports that the Department of Homeland Security had considered limiting most ICE traffic stops following recent scrutiny over fatal encounters during immigration enforcement.
In a post on social media, Trump defended the practice, writing, “We CANNOT give up one of ICE’s most important and effective Crime Fighting tools, THE TRAFFIC STOP!”
He also argued that reducing the use of traffic stops would be “playing right into the criminal’s hands.”
The Department of Homeland Security has not publicly confirmed any permanent changes to its traffic stop policies.
ICE said it will continue conducting targeted enforcement operations aimed at individuals who violate immigration laws and have criminal convictions. The agency maintains that such operations are focused on protecting public safety while enforcing federal immigration statutes.
What are your thoughts on targeted immigration enforcement operations? Should ICE continue prioritizing arrests of individuals with criminal convictions? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.
