Federal agents arrested 12 illegal aliens earlier this week during a worksite enforcement operation at two businesses in the Rio Grande Valley area.
The crackdown took place on June 9 by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations local office, alongside help from the DEA and the FBI. The arrests occurred at business locations in both Harlingen and nearby San Benito.
Some of the individuals arrested were foreigners from Mexico and El Salvador, illegally living in America with little to no documentation – all of whom are now facing deportation proceedings.
In a separate incident during the operation, a female illegal alien reportedly assaulted a special agent and is now facing two counts of assault on a federal officer.
As of 2025, federal law requires that all employers verify the identity and work eligibility of their employees using an I-9 Form. ICE officials say arrest operations like this one are part of a bigger strategy to enforce those employment laws and fight illegal employment practices, which often intersect with other crimes or human smuggling problems.
The names of the businesses involved have not yet been released, and the investigation remains ongoing.
This week’s investigation and arrests in the Rio Grande Valley area took place just before a separate large-scale operation by ICE in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
On June 11, HSI agents executed search warrants at nine different illegal massage parlors suspected of prostitution, according to another federal press release.
In total, 10 Chinese women were detained for identification and possible deportation. Agents also seized bulk cash and additional evidence, which are now being reviewed.
Louisiana’s Attorney General Liz Murrill and East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillary Moore were both on the scene for the operation, but as of the time of publication, they had not provided a comment to The Dallas Express on the arrests.