DHS Reports Arrest of Violent Criminal Illegal Aliens in Houston

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested several individuals with histories of violent crime in Houston, Texas, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The arrests involve people convicted of crimes including homicide, child sexual abuse, and aggravated kidnapping. These enforcement actions highlight a direct confrontation between federal authorities and local political stances regarding immigration enforcement.

“Sanctuary politicians are putting political power over protecting their constituents. But DHS will never stop removing dangerous illegal aliens from our communities,” said Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

Mullin continued by identifying the specific types of offenders captured in the Houston area, stating, “In the city of Houston, Texas, we have arrested cop-killers, child molesters, and drunk drivers. The mission continues, and we won’t let sanctuary politicians stop us from arresting and removing criminals like these.”

The Department of Homeland Security released specific details regarding the individuals apprehended during the October enforcement window. The data shows a pattern of repeat entries by several of the arrested individuals.

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Javier Hernandez Alcon, a Mexican national, was arrested by ICE on October 20. His criminal record includes convictions for the willful killing of a police officer with a weapon, burglary involving forced entry of a residence, and illegal entry. An immigration judge had issued him a final order of removal on March 6, 2000, and he was deported in both 2000 and 2014 before entering the United States a third time.

Apolinar Santibanez Avellanea, also from Mexico, was arrested on October 16. He has convictions for murder and driving while intoxicated. Records show he had been deported twice previously, in 2008 and 2025, prior to his most recent illegal re-entry.

The following table details the specific individuals and their documented criminal histories as reported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security:

Name	Country of Origin	Date of Arrest	Primary Convictions
Javier Hernandez Alcon	Mexico	October 20	Homicide (killing of a police officer), burglary
Apolinar Santibanez Avellanea	Mexico	October 16	Murder, driving while intoxicated
Victor Andres Ayala Rosales	El Salvador	October 12	Indecency with a child by sexual contact
Robert Alejandro Ortuno Guerra	Venezuela	October 2	Cruelty to children, attempting to evade arrest
Jose Francis Diaz Cortez	Honduras	October 27	Aggravated kidnapping resulting in bodily injury

The arrests have brought renewed scrutiny to the protocols used when individuals are first apprehended at the border. Two of the men listed in the report, Robert Alejandro Ortuno Guerra and Jose Francis Diaz Cortez, had both been previously processed by U.S. Border Patrol.

DHS Reports Arrest of Violent Criminal Illegal Aliens in Houston

Ortuno Guerra entered the United States through Texas in May 2023 and was released into the country by the Biden Administration. An immigration judge issued a final order of removal against him on May 2, 2024. Diaz Cortez entered through Texas in September 2023 and was also released by the administration following his initial arrest; an immigration judge issued his final order of removal on November 3, 2026.

Critics of current border policies argue that releasing individuals pending immigration proceedings creates public safety risks, particularly when those individuals have criminal histories. Conversely, proponents of the current system often point to the necessity of due process and the logistical constraints of the immigration court system, which manages millions of active cases.

The tension between federal enforcement and “sanctuary” jurisdictions remains a central flashpoint in American civic life. While local officials in various cities argue that cooperation with ICE can strain community trust, federal officials maintain that the presence of violent offenders within these jurisdictions necessitates aggressive removal operations.

ICE deported Apolinar Santibanez Avellanea on October 27, 2026.