South Texas ICE Office Shatters Its Own Record With 238 Arrests in a Single Day

A Record-Breaking Day in the Rio Grande Valley

ICE, working in partnership with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials, arrested 238 people in the country illegally on June 18, achieving the highest single-day targeted arrests for the Enforcement and Removal Operations Harlingen field office area of operations. The milestone marks a significant escalation in enforcement activity in one of the country's most active immigration corridors — the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas.

The Harlingen office oversees the South Texas region, and the individuals were arrested as part of an operation aimed at removing criminal illegal immigrants from communities to increase public safety. The agency conducted the operation in partnership with local, state, and federal law enforcement officials. The record was officially announced on July 14, nearly a month after the operation took place, drawing immediate national attention.

Who Was Arrested — and What They Were Convicted Of

Among those arrested were individuals with convictions for attempted kidnapping, sexual battery, and drug possession. The team also arrested an alleged Paisas gang member with arrests and convictions for assault causing bodily injury, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, driving while intoxicated, and illegal reentry.

Jose Alfredo Castillo-Mendoza, a Mexican national, was arrested during the operation. According to ICE, he was previously convicted of attempted kidnapping, sexual battery, and illegal reentry. Fernando Leonel Perez-Torres, also from Mexico, had convictions for a crash involving injury, theft, illegal entry, and two illegal reentries. These individuals could face additional criminal charges for illegal reentry into the United States.

ICE Leadership Responds

ICE Harlingen Field Office Director Juan Agudelo stated, "The ICE mission continues to focus on enhancing public safety and restoring integrity to our nation's immigration system," adding, "We will stop at nothing to keep our American communities safe by removing one criminal illegal alien at a time."

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said ICE was arresting and removing the "worst of the worst" from American communities, and that nearly 70 percent of ICE arrests involve illegal aliens charged or convicted of a crime in the country. The Harlingen operation fits squarely into that broader enforcement posture — one that has been ramping up steadily across Texas.

Part of a Broader Enforcement Surge Across Texas

On June 22, ICE said its Houston office arrested 735 criminal illegal immigrants in May, collectively accounting for 1,711 criminal convictions. This included 625 individuals convicted for at least one criminal offense that harmed, killed, or put innocent people at risk. Twenty-five were members or associates of various transnational and prison gangs, including MS-13. Among those arrested were individuals accused of murder, rape, arson, child predation, and drug trafficking.

The announcement came amid broader debate over ICE enforcement tactics, including scrutiny over recent fatal encounters involving immigration enforcement traffic stops. President Trump pushed back on any pause in vehicle stops, insisting that they must resume. With record-setting operations like the one in Harlingen now being highlighted by the agency, the administration appears intent on signaling that enforcement intensity will only continue to grow in the months ahead.