ICE Houston Reports 414 Noncitizen Child Sex Offender Arrests in First Year of Trump’s Second Term
An ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Houston report says officers arrested 414 noncitizens charged with or convicted of child sex offenses during the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term, nearly double the 211 such arrests in the final year of the Biden administration. ICE says the group collectively accounts for 761 child sex offenses and 525 other crimes ranging from homicide to robbery in and around southeast Texas. The press release highlights individual cases, including Mexican national Juan Leonardo Garcia Ibarra, who ICE says illegally reentered the U.S. 12 times and has convictions for sexual indecency with a child and other violent crimes, and Honduran national Alex Samuel Lara Diaz, deported in December 2025 and turned over to Honduran authorities, where he is wanted for homicide. A British national, Andrew Mark Watson, convicted of child sexual abuse material and exploitation offenses, remains in ICE custody pending immigration proceedings. Acting ERO Houston Field Office Director Gabriel Martinez framed the arrests as evidence that ICE is quietly removing “dangerous child predators” while, in his view, critics spread “fake news” about the agency’s public‑safety role, rhetoric that supporters and opponents are already using online to argue over the broader effectiveness and priorities of Trump’s renewed immigration crackdown.
📌 Key Facts
- ICE ERO Houston reports 414 noncitizen individuals charged with or convicted of child sex offenses were arrested in the first year of President Trump’s second term, compared with 211 in Biden’s final year.
- ICE attributes 761 child sex offenses and 525 other criminal offenses to the arrested group, including crimes such as homicide and robbery.
- Mexican national Juan Leonardo Garcia Ibarra was arrested April 4, 2025, and deported April 7, 2025, with ICE alleging 12 illegal reentries and multiple prior convictions including sexual indecency with a child.
- Honduran national Alex Samuel Lara Diaz, convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a minor and wanted for homicide in Honduras, was arrested Oct. 29, 2025 and deported Dec. 13, 2025 to face prosecution there.
- British national Andrew Mark Watson, convicted of possession of child sexual abuse material and sexually exploiting a minor, was arrested Dec. 5, 2025 and remains in ICE custody pending immigration proceedings.
📊 Relevant Data
In the Houston three-county region (Fort Bend, Harris, Montgomery), more than 25% of the population was foreign-born in 2023, compared to 14% nationally.
Population and Diversity | Understanding Houston — Understanding Houston
In Houston's three-county region, the majority of unauthorized immigrants are from Mexico and Central America, with 85% in Montgomery County from these areas as of 2019 data.
Population and Diversity | Understanding Houston — Understanding Houston
The non-Hispanic White population declined in Harris County between 2010 and 2023, while Hispanic and Asian populations grew significantly, driven by international migration.
Population and Diversity | Understanding Houston — Understanding Houston
Push factors driving migration from countries like Honduras and Mexico include lack of economic opportunities, climate vulnerabilities, political instability, and organized crime.
Irregular migration starts well before the US southern border. Focus on the driving causes of the problem — Atlantic Council
U.S. immigration policy emphasizes family reunification, which has facilitated increased migration from Latin America, including Mexico and Central America.
Primer on U.S. Immigration Policy — Congressional Research Service
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