ICE arrest surge upends daily life in Rio Grande Valley's Laguna Madre area
Aug 26, 2026·Location: Port Isabel, TX

Since early July, ICE agents in unmarked SUVs have been arresting people daily in traffic stops and near workplaces throughout the Laguna Madre area, which includes Port Isabel, South Padre Island, Laguna Vista, and Laguna Heights. Residents like Brenda Dumas describe the community as a 'ghost town,' with people avoiding school registration, grocery shopping, and errands, and at least one restaurant and convenience store restricting public access. Port Isabel's mayor said he is 'troubled' by reports of masked, unmarked officers detaining or roughly treating residents, while Cameron County has entered into a limited 287(g) partnership with ICE and other Valley towns have adopted more extensive agreements.
Sources
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