(Texas Scorecard) – One in 10 Harris County jail inmates is wanted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to findings from a Fox News open record request.
The inmates are under an ICE hold or detainer, which is a notice that the Department of Homeland Security sends to law enforcement agencies when ICE intends to assume custody of the inmate in no more than 48 hours.
According to the report, out of 9,527 inmates in Harris County jail, there are 1,170 inmates with ICE holds. As of September, 174 inmates with ICE holds were connected to sexual assault cases—most involving children under 14 years old.
In August, the Texas Department of Public Safety captured an illegal alien who was wanted out of Harris County. Jose Miguel Zelaya-Ponce was on Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Criminal Illegal Immigrants List for aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14.
Last week, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stopped in Texas to address border security. In attendance was Alexis Nungaray, the mother of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, who was allegedly murdered by two illegal aliens in Harris County.
During his speech, Trump reiterated his promise for the “largest mass deportation” in history.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently announced that 2.1 million southwest border encounters occurred during the 2024 federal fiscal year.