KAUFMAN, Texas — Federal officers with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested a previously deported Mexican man on Kaufman County charges for aggravated sexual assault of a child, the agency announced Wednesday.
KAUFMAN, Texas — Federal officers with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) arrested a previously deported Mexican man on Kaufman County charges for aggravated sexual assault of a child, the agency announced Wednesday.
The arrest is among 98 illegal immigrants throughout the North Texas and Oklahoma area targeted during a 10-day enforcement action which ended last Friday.
67 of those arrested had prior criminal convictions for, among others, homicide, sexual-related offenses, illegal re-entry, drug-related offenses including trafficking, assault, smuggling, burglary, lewd acts, hit-and-run, traffic offenses, and trespassing. 29 of the arrested had previously been deported and illegally re-entered the United States. Five were confirmed and documented gang members.
On September 12, 2018, ICE officers arrested 39-year-old Erick Hernandez, of Mexico, on two active Kaufman County warrants for aggravated sexual assault of a child. Hernandez was turned over to the Kaufman County Sheriff's Office and is being held at the Kaufman County Jail on bonds totaling $200,000 and an immigration detainer. Hernandez was previously convicted of illegal entry, reckless injury to a child, and was deported before illegally re-entered the United States.
A release from ICE did not specify where Hernandez was apprehended but did state arrests were made in 38 Texas cities including one in Kaufman, one in Canton, one in Athens, two in Mesquite, and two in Palestine.
Also, arrests where made throughout North Texas in Amarillo (2), Arlington (2), Big Spring (1), Bridgeport (1), Carrollton (1), Dallas (11), Denton (3), Fort Worth (5), Frisco (3), Garland (1), Gilmer (4), Grapevine (1), Greenville (1), Haltom City (1), Haslett (1), Hawley (1), Irving (6), Jacksboro (2), Lewisville (2), Longview (2), Lubbock (9), McKinney (3), Palestine (2), Pampa (4), Perryton (2), Plainview (2), Plano (1), Sache (1), San Angelo (2), Sherman (2), Tyler (1), Wichita Falls (1) and White Oak (1). 11 arrests were made in Oklahoma in Oklahoma City (3) and Tulsa (8).
Illegal immigrants arrested during this operation are from the following six countries, according to ICE: Mexico (82), El Salvador (7), Honduras (6), Marshall Islands (1), Pakistan (1) and Peru (1).
“By removing criminal aliens from the streets during this North Texas and Oklahoma operation, our ICE officers provide a valuable community service by enhancing public safety,” said Marc J. Moore, field office director of ERO Dallas. “These ongoing daily operations also help maintain the integrity of our immigration laws.”
The Kaufman County Jail is currently housing three other inmates on immigration detainers who were arrested earlier this month: Raymundo Castro was arrested by the Texas Department of Public Safety for driving while intoxicated with a child under 15 years of age, with a $10,000 bond; Jose Jesus Montana-Vega is being held on Terrell Police Department charges for driving while intoxicated on a $1,500 bond and forgery on a $25,000 bond; and Anna Maria Moreno-Suarez on a Kaufman County charge for assault on a family or household member by impeding breathing or circulation on a $25,000 bond. Its unknown if these arrests were made as part of the latest targeted enforcement.
ICE provided criminal summaries for three other arrests made during the operation in North Texas and Oklahoma:
Sept. 14 – ICE arrested a Salvadoran citizen, who has an outstanding Interpol warrant out of El Salvador for extortion. He is also a confirmed and documented MS-13 gang member. He remains in ICE custody pending his removal.
Sept. 19 – ICE officers arrested a 28-year-old man from El Salvador who has an active Interpol warrant naming him as the leader of an MS-13 clique. He has warrants in El Salvador for acts of terrorism related to homicide, extortion and drug crimes. He remains in ICE custody pending his removal proceedings.
Sept. 20 – ICE officers arrested a previously deported man from Mexico who is a confirmed and documented gang member. He remains in ICE custody pending his removal proceedings.