Federal and state authorities in Texas this week announced a series of enforcement actions ranging from a weapons seizure at the border to a federal fraud sentence and firearms indictments tied to immigration cases.
1. Border gun bust: CBP stops weapons headed for Mexico
Director of Field Operations Donald R. Kusser of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Laredo Field Office posted on X on January 5 that officers at the Del Rio Port of Entry seized weapons and ammunition during an outbound inspection, describing the operation as part of efforts to protect communities “on both sides of the border.”
Del Rio, Texas – Laredo Field Office A-TCET officers selected a 2016 Chevrolet passenger van hauling a trailer for an enforcement inspection, resulting in a weapons seizure. This is how we protect our communities – on both sides of the border. #OFOProud🇺🇸 @CBP pic.twitter.com/FqFVuK0dir
— Director of Field Operations, Donald R. Kusser (@DFOLaredo) January 5, 2026
Officers assigned to the Del Rio International Bridge selected a 2016 Chevrolet passenger van traveling to Mexico for inspection on December 21, according to a CBP press release. The vehicle and a utility trailer were referred for a nonintrusive inspection system scan and a canine examination, the agency release said. During a subsequent physical inspection, officers claimed they discovered two weapons, nine magazines, 1,389 rounds of ammunition, and one gun sight hidden within commodities inside the vehicle.
“Every weapon and round of ammunition seized represents a potential threat neutralized,” said Port Director Liliana Flores of the Del Rio Port of Entry in the release. “As this seizure illustrates, we will continue to leverage every resource to deter and disrupt illegal activities that threaten public safety.”
CBP’s release said the weapons, ammunition, magazines, and gun sight were seized and that Homeland Security Investigations special agents initiated a criminal investigation. The agency released a photo showing the seized items arrayed on a table.
2. Church con job: Houston man gets 5 years for fake immigration scam
In Houston, a 58-year-old man was sentenced to five years in federal prison on January 8 for his role in what prosecutors described as a wide-ranging immigration fraud scheme that targeted more than 100 victims.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas said in a press release that Jesus Carlos Silva pleaded guilty on July 9, 2025, to conspiring to commit mail and wire fraud after falsely promising individuals he could secure U.S. citizenship or other legal immigration status in under a year. U.S. District Judge George C. Hanks ordered Silva to serve 60 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
Prosecutors alleged Silva recruited victims at churches, charged between $10,000 and $15,000 per person, and pretended to be an immigration attorney affiliated with a Houston-based law firm from March 2022 through December 2024. According to the government, Silva collected payments through checks and money orders, provided no legitimate services, and eventually cut off communication with victims.
The court also heard allegations that Silva instructed some individuals to travel to Houston for supposed appointments with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, only for them to arrive and find no such appointments existed. Authorities said Silva admitted to stealing more than $1.5 million from victims in Texas, Illinois, Louisiana, and Florida. He was allowed to remain on bond and will voluntarily surrender to a Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and the Houston Police Department, according to the release.
3. Armed and illegal: Two men indicted in East Texas firearms case
In the Eastern District of Texas, federal prosecutors announced indictments against two illegal aliens for firearms violations, per a January 8 press release.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Manuel Gomez Ayala, 39, and Alberto Saenz-De la Cruz, 33, illegal aliens from Mexico, were indicted for possession of a firearm. The Texas Department of Public Safety and Immigration and Customs Enforcement are investigating the cases.
Prosecutors said the cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a Justice Department initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, cartels, and transnational criminal organizations. Officials emphasized that a federal indictment is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.