U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) apprehended 12 illegal immigrants during two coordinated worksite enforcement operations in South Texas on Monday. The raids, led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) out of the Rio Grande Valley Office, targeted businesses in Harlingen and San Benito.
ICE confirmed that one female illegal immigrant resisted arrest and allegedly assaulted a federal agent. She now faces two counts of assault on a federal officer. All 12 individuals taken into custody are currently in pending removal proceedings.
The agency emphasized that its worksite operations are designed to address broader criminal activities often associated with illegal employment, including human trafficking, document fraud, smuggling, and labor exploitation. HSI stated, “ICE’s worksite enforcement strategy often intersects with other criminal investigations… including substandard wages or working conditions.”
HSI clarified that rumors of widespread immigration raids in South Texas have been overstated. “These rumors are often exaggerated and can cause unnecessary panic,” the agency said in a statement to the Border Report. ICE stressed that enforcement actions are based on credible intelligence, not indiscriminate targeting.
The June 9 operations were carried out with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). The names of the businesses involved were not disclosed.
These latest actions follow a renewed push from the Trump administration to enforce immigration law more aggressively at the workplace level. Since January, ICE has imposed over $1 million in fines against employers found guilty of hiring illegal labor. HSI acting Director Robert Hammer stated in April that worksite enforcement remains a key priority, saying, “Businesses that exploit and hire illegal workers are harming the American public.”
The agency encourages the public to report suspicious activity related to immigration violations by calling 1-866-DHS-2-ICE or submitting tips through its online portal.
