What does an ICE operation actually look like?
The Dallas Express embedded with federal agents in North Texas to document a real enforcement mission.
The video below shows a predawn operation targeting an MS-13 gang member wanted in El Salvador for homicide, according to federal officials.
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: ICE RIDE-ALONG@DallasExpress was invited by ICE for a rare, behind-the-scenes ride-along—where we witnessed agents track down and arrest a known MS-13 gang member in a targeted operation.
What we saw: precision, coordination—and a side of law enforcement most… pic.twitter.com/meYfHOX9iw
— The Dallas Express News (@DallasExpress) March 19, 2026
Agents staged before sunrise, monitored the suspect’s routine, and coordinated a vehicle stop as he left for work. Officers surrounded the vehicle and took him into custody within seconds.
ICE officials describe operations like this as “targeted enforcement,” where agents identify specific individuals through investigative work before making an arrest.
The footage comes amid heightened national attention on immigration enforcement, including recent violence and legal developments tied to ICE operations.
Just days before the video’s release, a federal jury convicted nine defendants connected to the ambush of the Prairieland ICE Detention Facility in Alvarado, where a police officer was shot during a July 4 attack.
The ride-along offers a firsthand look at how enforcement operations are planned and carried out on the ground.
