Salvadoran MS-13 member arrested in Houston, remains in custody pending removal
Apr 6, 2026·Location: Houston, TX
Country of origin: El Salvador

Haydee Mercado-Rodriguez, 34, of El Salvador, was arrested April 9, 2026, during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas. ICE identified her as an MS-13 gang member and foreign fugitive convicted in El Salvador of homicide-related and other offenses. She remains in custody pending removal. Minh Duy Tong Nguyen, 54, of Vietnam, was arrested April 16, 2026, during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas. ICE reported he was convicted of murder in Houston in 1991 and had a longstanding removal order. He remains in custody pending removal. Carlos Carmona-Palomo, 29, of Mexico, was arrested April 6, 2026, during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas. ICE identified him as a foreign fugitive wanted for homicide. He was deported April 21, 2026. Leobardo Nieves-Vasquez, 35, of Mexico, was arrested April 7, 2026, during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas. ICE reported he was convicted of intoxication manslaughter in Angelina County, Texas. He was deported April 9, 2026. Eric Eusevio Cortez, 44, of Mexico, was arrested during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas between April 6 and April 17, 2026. ICE reported he had prior convictions for sexual offenses involving minors. Some individuals with such convictions have been deported while others remain in custody pending removal proceedings. Manuel Navarrete-Arellano, 43, of Mexico, was arrested during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas between April 6 and April 17, 2026. ICE reported he had prior convictions for sexual offenses involving minors. Some individuals with such convictions have been deported while others remain in custody pending removal proceedings. Yeslin Orellana Manchame, 30, of Honduras, was arrested during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas between April 6 and April 17, 2026. ICE reported she had prior convictions for sexual offenses involving minors. Filiberto Aleman Sanchez, 55, of Mexico, was arrested during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas between April 6 and April 17, 2026. ICE reported he had prior convictions for sexual offenses involving minors. Brian Rivera Santoyo, 22, of Mexico, was arrested during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas between April 6 and April 17, 2026. ICE reported he had prior convictions related to drug offenses, immigration violations, or other crimes. Heros Cantu, 33, of Mexico, was arrested during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas between April 6 and April 17, 2026. ICE reported he had prior convictions related to drug offenses, immigration violations, or other crimes. Jose Artemio Sanchez-Garcia, 61, of Mexico, was arrested during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas between April 6 and April 17, 2026. ICE reported he had prior convictions related to drug offenses, immigration violations, or other crimes. Javier Ramirez, a U.S. citizen and single father of two, was arrested during a Border Patrol roving patrol at a tow yard in Montebello and charged in federal court with assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal officer. According to a federal criminal complaint, agents conducted a roving patrol and engaged subjects in a consensual encounter in a parking lot on West Olympic Boulevard. Security camera video showed agents entering the fenced property, and Ramirez was wrestled to the ground while shouting. His attorney contests the charges, stating that Ramirez did not assault anyone, raised his hands when confronted, and was not attempting to flee. The incident occurred as part of broader Border Patrol enforcement operations in Southern California. Pedro Joel Martinez, 52, of El Salvador, was arrested during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas between April 6 and April 17, 2026. ICE reported he had prior convictions for sexual offenses involving minors. Some individuals with such convictions have been deported while others remain in custody pending removal proceedings. Cristian Muratalla Rodriguez, 29, of Mexico, was arrested during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas between April 6 and April 17, 2026. ICE reported he had prior convictions related to drug offenses, immigration violations, or other crimes.
Sources
- Fears of racial profiling rise as Border Patrol conducts 'roving patrols,' detains U.S. citizens
Los Angeles Times·Jun 15, 2025·archived copy
- Ice agents detain US citizen as LA immigration raids continue: ‘It’s racial profiling’
The Guardian·Jun 16, 2025·archived copy
- ICE Houston reports 277 arrests over two-week enforcement period
click2houston.com·Apr 22, 2026·archived copy
- ice.gov
Apr 22, 2026·archived copy
- ICE Houston arrests 277 noncitizens with criminal records in Southeast Texas operation
aol.com·Apr 23, 2026·archived copy
- Plaintiffs allege LA immigration raids driven by racial discrimination
- Los Angeles ICE Raids Racial Profiling Case Moves Forward
news.bloomberglaw.com·Feb 20, 2026·archived copy
- 'Antagonized for being Hispanic': Growing claims of racial profiling in LA raids
LAist·Jul 4, 2025·archived copy
- 'Antagonized for being Hispanic': Growing claims of racial profiling in LA raids
- US: ICE Abuses in Los Angeles Set Stage for Other Cities
archive.hrw.org·Nov 4, 2025·archived copy
- U.S. Citizen Arrested By ICE in L.A. For 'Forcefully Obstructing' Officers During Raid: 'I Was Racially Profiled'
latintimes.com·Jun 27, 2025·archived copy
- Sacramento Bee
- kansascity.com
- ICE keeps detaining pregnant immigrants — against federal policy
WLRN·Oct 27, 2025·archived copy
- 19thnews.org
- CourtListener
- CourtListener
- CourtListener
- CourtListener
- CourtListener
- CourtListener
- Sanchez Rodriguez v. Warden, Karnes County Immigration Processing Center, 5:26-cv-05862
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