In a major law enforcement operation in Colony Ridge, Texas, a predominantly Hispanic community just outside Houston, approximately 90 illegal migrants were apprehended. The operation, which targeted criminal and illegal migrants, was the result of months of planning and coordination between the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Governor Greg Abbott announced the operation early Monday morning on X, noting the involvement of DPS troopers and special agents.
Tom Homan, former Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and often referred to as the “border czar,” joined the operation and described it as part of a “larger criminal investigation.” While Homan could not disclose all the details of the ongoing investigation, he characterized the dozens of arrests made on Monday as “phase one.” Among those apprehended was Florentin Chevez-Luna, a 39-year-old El Salvadoran national with a history of multiple deportations. ICE officials revealed that Chevez-Luna had an active criminal arrest warrant for alleged repeated sexual abuse of a minor over an eight-year period, from November 2008 to November 2016. He was taken into custody in Plum Grove, Texas, by ICE Homeland Security Investigations and Texas DPS.
Homan emphasized that the operation was not a random sweep but a targeted effort to dismantle a criminal network. He noted that the majority of those arrested had criminal backgrounds, with at least 69 individuals identified as criminals and several suspected child sexual predators among them. Some of the arrests occurred at worksites, while others were made during traffic stops conducted by DPS. Homan stressed that the operation was not targeting the community at large but rather specific individuals with known criminal histories or active warrants.
Despite the focus on criminal illegal migrants, Homan made it clear that anyone present in the country illegally was at risk of deportation. “Just because you prioritize one thing doesn’t mean you forget the other,” he said. “There are laws on the books. There is nothing in the Immigration and Nationality Act that says you got to commit yet another crime to be arrested by ICE officers. It is a crime to enter this country illegally. If you are in the country illegally, you got a problem. But again, we are going to prioritize criminals and public safety.”
The operation sparked mixed reactions in Colony Ridge. While some residents and activists expressed concerns, others, including Colony Ridge CEO John Harris, openly supported the effort. Harris stated, “We are grateful for the efforts of Governor Abbott, Tom Homan, and all those involved in rooting out criminal illegals in Texas.” He emphasized that DPS officers had been working in the area for over two years and were well-acquainted with the community. Harris also highlighted the community’s safety record, calling Colony Ridge “one of the safest communities of its size anywhere in Texas.”
The operation also shed light on the broader issue of illegal activity in the region. Just last week, three illegal migrants with multiple prior deportations were arrested near Colony Ridge in connection with the distribution of 350 pounds of methamphetamine. The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office reported that the suspects, identified as Gerson Lopez Zuniga, Cruz Isidro Sandoval, and Adan Aguirre Arzate, were linked to a camper trailer where authorities discovered 12 “Iceberg Lettuce” boxes containing approximately 344 pounds of methamphetamines. These incidents underscore the ongoing challenges posed by illegal migration and criminal activity in the region, as well as the efforts of law enforcement to address them.
