(Texas Scorecard) – Just days after he was added to the list of the top 10 most wanted illegal aliens in Texas, Jose Miguel Zelaya-Ponce was arrested in the Houston area.
Zelaya-Ponce, 20, was apprehended for aggravated sexual assault of a child under the age of 14. Originally from Honduras, he has been wanted out of Harris County since July 2024.
Texas Department of Public Safety officers made the arrest.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection first detained Zelaya-Ponce in April 2021. Though Zelaya-Ponce was put in deportation proceedings, he was released into the country on an order of recognizance—which occurs when a foreign national is temporarily freed with reporting conditions as deportation proceedings continue until a final decision is reached.
In June of this year, a final order for his removal was issued. Before he was apprehended, Zelaya-Ponce was considered armed and dangerous.
“CAPTURED. That’s one more criminal illegal immigrant off our streets,” Gov. Greg Abbott posted on X following the arrest. “Kamala Harris’ open border agenda let him in. Texas will continue to arrest these dangerous criminals and put them behind bars.”
Currently, Texas DPS has captured 31 fugitives that were featured on the top 10 most wanted list. This includes 11 sex offenders, 10 gang members, and four criminal illegal aliens.
Nevertheless, violent illegal aliens are continuing to be apprehended as they cross the southern border, and are released into the country.
For example, 24-year-old Yohenry Brito—the illegal alien accused of pummeling two police officers in Times Square—had been previously apprehended while crossing the border at El Paso. Yet, he too was released into the country because of the Biden-Harris administration’s open border policies.