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Over the past six months, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested more than 200 individuals in the Houston area for child sex offenses.
These 214 individuals were apprehended for immigration violations by ICE and have been either charged or convicted of a sex crime involving a minor, as per a recent media release.
The number of arrests surpasses the 211 made “during the entire 2024 fiscal year.”
ICE attributes the increase in arrests to a comprehensive approach implemented by the current administration, resulting in the formation of multiagency targeting teams in various regions.
“By pooling the resources and expertise of the entire federal law enforcement community to address the surge in illegal immigration observed over the past four years, we have successfully arrested and deported a record number of violent criminal aliens, transnational gang members, and individuals guilty of child sex offenses,” stated Paul McBride, the Acting Field Office Director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Houston.
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A protest outside the CoreCivic federal detention center in Houston, organized by FIEL Houston in response to recent ICE arrests on Friday, June 13, 2025. (Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle)
Out of the 214 individuals arrested, ICE highlighted five cases of individuals who had been previously deported:
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Jorge Zebra, 48, was deported back to Mexico by ICE on March 24, 2025. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
Jorge Zebra, a 48-year-old Mexican national, was arrested on March 21. He has been convicted of two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a minor and sexual indecency with a minor, leading to his deportation back to Mexico on March 24.
Jesus Gutierrez Mireles, 67, has been deported from the U.S. to Mexico three times. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
67-year-old Jesus Gutierrez Mireles, a Mexican national, was arrested on March 28. He has been convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child and driving under the influence. Mireles has been deported three times and was sent back to Mexico from the U.S. on April 4.
Jose Guadalupe Meza, 40, was deported back to Mexico for the fourth time by ICE on June 25, 2025. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
Jose Guadalupe Meza, aged 40, was arrested on June 24. He has been convicted of theft and sexual assault of a child. Meza has been deported four times and was sent back to Mexico on June 25.
Sergio Rolando Galvan Guerrero, 45, was deported back to Mexico by ICE officials for the third time on July 14, 2025. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
45-year-old Sergio Rolando Galvan Guerrero was arrested on July 12. He has been convicted of driving while intoxicated and aggravated sexual assault of a child. Guerrero has been deported three times and was sent back to Mexico on July 14.
Manuel Antonio Castro-Juarez, 37, “has been convicted of sexual assault of a minor and twice for illegal reentry,” ICE said. He remains in custody pending his third removal to El Salvador. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
37-year-old Manuel Antonio Castro-Juarez was arrested on July 18. He has been convicted of sexual assault of a minor and illegal reentry twice. Castro-Juarez has been deported twice before and is currently in ICE custody awaiting his third removal to El Salvador.
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“Although there is still work to be done to effectively manage this crisis, the progress made in just six months to enhance the safety of our local communities is significant. Our officers continue to work diligently every day to remove the most dangerous criminal aliens from Southeast Texas and restore our communities to safe havens for everyone,” McBride remarked.
Contributions to this report were made by Brooke Taylor from the news organization.
