U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stated that Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in Houston continues to arrest undocumented noncitizens with prior convictions for driving under the influence (DUI) resulting in death who had previously been deported from the U.S.
According to ICE data, DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) and intoxicated manslaughter cases are considered common serious crime categories in the Houston area, with many cases involving Mexican citizens present in the country illegally.
Previous reports indicate that among more than 660,000 noncitizens with criminal records identified for removal by late 2024 who were not in custody, over 126,000 had traffic violations, including DUI cases, which are considered threats to public safety.
In the latest incident in Harris County, Texas, ICE officers lodged detainers against two Mexican citizens after local law enforcement arrested them on charges of causing death while driving intoxicated.
The two individuals arrested are:
Enrique Acevedo Barocio, 27
Manuel Neri Mendoza, 37
According to ICE, both had been previously deported and had two prior DWI convictions. In the recent incident, Mendoza is accused of fleeing the scene of an accident, leaving a 3-year-old child in the crashed vehicle alongside the mother's body.
ICE reported that over the past 12 months, ERO Houston has arrested:
- 21 noncitizens convicted of intoxicated manslaughter
- 243 individuals with at least three DWI convictions
Additionally, ICE officers in Houston arrested 98 individuals who fled accident scenes and were convicted of failure to stop and render aid.
Gabriel Martinez, acting field office director for ICE ERO Houston, stated that the drunk driving behavior of these individuals has led to severe consequences.
He noted that at least 23 families have lost loved ones due to DUI-related incidents over the past year.
ICE also cited several cases where offenders had been deported multiple times but returned to the U.S. These include individuals deported 5, 10, or even 12 times, with multiple convictions such as DWI, theft, aggravated assault, smuggling, and illegal re-entry.
According to ICE, many of these individuals have now been removed from the U.S. following their arrests.
The agency urges the public to report illegal acts or suspicious activity via the hotline at 866-347-2423 or through ICE's online reporting page.
