ICE arrests in Texas have included people DHS says were linked to terrorism plots, wanted for murder in Mexico, convicted of serious sex offenses and involved in drug crimes, according to a September 22, 2026 statement from the Department of Homeland Security.
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Ice Arrests Update
The nine ICE arrests and related removals highlighted by DHS involved cases across several categories of alleged or established criminal conduct. The agency’s release highlighted nine cases involving arrests, deportations or other immigration enforcement actions in Texas. DHS presented the cases as examples of what it described as the “worst” people arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the state.
The cases described in the release were also part of a broader political argument about federal enforcement. The announcement criticized Texas politicians who have opposed or questioned ICE operations. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the agency would continue removing people it identifies as criminal threats. The statement was issued by DHS and reflects the department’s characterization of the cases; individual criminal histories and allegations should be understood in light of the underlying court or law-enforcement records.
What DHS reported about the Texas cases
The DHS statement identified people from Afghanistan and Mexico and described enforcement actions dating from July 2025 through September 2026. These ICE arrests and related actions included completed deportations, while others concerned arrests based on prior convictions, alleged conduct or outstanding warrants.
- Nazira Haji Zada: DHS said she was deported in September 2026 after supporting a plot to carry out an ISIS-inspired mass shooting on Election Day in 2024. The department said she is permanently inadmissible to the United States.
- Pedro Luis Ortiz-Mendez and Jose Vicente Ortiz-Mendez: DHS said ICE arrested the two Mexican nationals in Arlington in August 2025. The agency described the ICE arrests as involving fugitives wanted in Mexico in connection with multiple murders in San Luis Potosi.
- Pedro Trejo Reyes: DHS said ICE arrested and later deported him after a Texas conviction involving repeated sexual assaults against his 12-year-old niece. The agency also cited a driving-while-intoxicated conviction and said he was removed on July 17, 2025.
- Eduardo Aguilar: DHS said ICE arrested him in October 2025 after he posted a Spanish-language TikTok video soliciting the murder of ICE officers and offering a $10,000 reward.
- Jose Fuentes-Sanchez: DHS said ICE arrested him in September 2026 and cited convictions in Austin for evading arrest or detention with a vehicle and resisting an officer.
- Sergio Ehuan-Canul: DHS said ICE arrested him in September 2026 after a conviction in Randall County for attempted indecency with a child involving sexual contact.
- Francisco Sanchez-Villarreal: DHS said ICE arrested him in September 2026 and cited a McAllen conviction for possessing five kilograms or more of cocaine with intent to distribute.
- Nolasco Bautista-Santiago: DHS said ICE arrested him in August 2026 after an Edinburg conviction for indecency with a child involving sexual contact.
- Jesus Ivan Alvarez-Ceteno: DHS said ICE arrested him in August 2026 after convictions in Dallas involving conspiracy to possess cocaine for distribution and illegal possession of a machine gun.
Several cases involve prior convictions or foreign warrants
The ICE arrests described by DHS fall into several categories. Some involve people whom the agency says had already been convicted in Texas. Others involve foreign criminal warrants or alleged conduct that prompted federal attention. One case involved a completed deportation after an alleged terrorism-related plot, while another involved a person whom DHS said had been deported after a Texas criminal conviction.
That distinction matters because an ICE arrest is an immigration-enforcement action, not by itself a finding of guilt on a new criminal charge. In the DHS announcement, some descriptions refer to convictions, some to foreign warrants and some to alleged conduct. The legal status of each person can depend on criminal court records, immigration proceedings, removal orders and any appeals or other pending litigation.
ICE arrests and removals are handled within the federal immigration system. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations handles arrests, detention decisions and removals in that system. People in immigration proceedings generally have the opportunity to present claims for relief or protection from removal, subject to the applicable statutes, regulations and court procedures.
DHS attacks criticism from Texas officials
The release was also political in tone. DHS accused several Texas officials of interfering with or mischaracterizing ICE operations, including Rep. Greg Casar, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and Austin City Councilwoman Krista Laine.
The agency quoted criticism from those officials regarding ICE’s presence in Austin and its effect on public safety. DHS rejected those statements and argued that local officials should support federal action against people with serious criminal records or outstanding warrants. The statement framed the ICE arrests as part of that federal action.
The statement did not provide a detailed response from the named officials, nor did it include case documents, charging instruments or court docket references for each person listed. As a result, the DHS release is best read as an agency summary of selected enforcement actions rather than a complete independent account of every case involving ICE arrests.
What happens after an ICE arrest
Following an ICE arrest, the agency may decide whether to detain a person, release the person under conditions or pursue another form of custody. ICE arrests can therefore lead to different outcomes depending on immigration status, prior removal orders, criminal history, flight risk, public-safety considerations and whether the person has a pending immigration-court case.
After ICE arrests, a person in removal proceedings may have a hearing before an immigration judge and may seek available forms of relief. Some people can challenge removability or apply for protection, while others may be subject to expedited removal or a previously issued removal order. The process varies significantly by case.
ICE maintains an Online Detainee Locator System for people currently in ICE custody or recently held by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. ICE arrests may not appear as a complete public history in that system because it does not provide a record of every person who has ever been arrested or removed. The system can be searched using an A-number or biographical information.
Practical information for families and attorneys
Families trying to locate someone after one of these ICE arrests should gather the person’s full legal name, date of birth, country of birth and, if available, the nine-digit A-number. ICE recommends using the A-number search when that information is known.
People involved in immigration proceedings should contact a qualified immigration attorney or an accredited legal-services organization as soon as possible. Relatives should also verify information about ICE arrests through official ICE or immigration-court channels rather than relying solely on social media posts or unofficial detention listings.
ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Detention and Reporting and Information Line provides a channel for questions involving detention, family separation, medical concerns and basic case information. The agency also publishes field-office and detention-facility information, although locations and visitation procedures can change. Those resources may help families responding to an arrest.
Why the announcement matters
The DHS release illustrates how the federal government is framing immigration enforcement in Texas: by emphasizing cases involving violent crime allegations, prior convictions, terrorism-related conduct, drug trafficking and foreign fugitives. It also shows that ICE arrests remain a point of conflict between federal authorities and local officials who disagree about the role or impact of immigration enforcement.
For the public, the most important distinction is between an agency allegation, a criminal conviction, a foreign warrant and an immigration arrest. Those categories are not interchangeable. The DHS statement identifies the agency’s position, while court records and formal immigration proceedings determine the legal status and outcome of each individual case involving the agency’s actions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Texas cases did DHS highlight?
DHS highlighted nine cases involving ICE arrests, deportations or related enforcement actions in Texas.
Were all of the people listed by DHS convicted in Texas?
No. DHS described a mixture of cases involving Texas convictions, alleged conduct, foreign murder warrants and a terrorism-related plot.
Does an ICE arrest establish criminal guilt?
No. An ICE arrest is an immigration-enforcement action. Criminal guilt must be established through the applicable criminal court process, and some DHS descriptions concern allegations or foreign warrants.
How can a family locate someone in ICE custody?
Families can use ICE’s Online Detainee Locator System with the person’s A-number or exact biographical information. They may also contact ICE’s detention information line for assistance.
Fact-Checked: Reported from the September 22, 2026 DHS statement and cross-checked against current official ICE resources; case-specific claims remain attributed to DHS because the release did not provide complete underlying court records.
Disclaimer: This article summarizes an official DHS announcement and does not independently determine the legal status or guilt of any individual named.
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