HOUSTON (Covering Katy News) — The Houston area is the scene of several protests today, gathering under the banner of ‘No Kings’ in opposition to President Trump’s stringent immigration enforcement policies.
Demonstrations are set to take place at city halls in Katy and Sugar Land, reflecting growing public dissent against recent federal actions that have seen numerous individuals charged with immigration-related crimes.
This particular wave of protests follows a significant immigration enforcement operation this June, which resulted in federal prosecutors announcing charges against 332 people over the course of just one week.
In light of previous protests that have turned violent, Governor Greg Abbott has taken measures to ensure public safety by deploying more than 5,000 Texas National Guard troops along with 2,000 state police officers to monitor the demonstrations.
Starting at noon, the protest at Katy City Hall will last until 1 p.m., while the event in Sugar Land will continue until 2 p.m.
Additionally, the main gathering in Houston is scheduled for 10 a.m. at Houston City Hall, coinciding with President Trump’s 79th birthday and the celebration of the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary.
Other protests are also anticipated in Conroe, Cypress, Kingwood, League City, and The Woodlands throughout the day.
This series of actions takes place against the backdrop of one of the largest immigration enforcement operations along the Texas-Mexico border, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, which is based in Houston.
Between June 6 and June 12, federal authorities conducted sweeping actions aimed at illegal immigration, human smuggling, and document fraud across seven major Texan cities, noted U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
The outcomes of these operations are significant, as out of the 332 individuals arrested, 205 face federal charges for illegal border crossings.
An additional 109 individuals have been charged with felony reentry after being previously deported.
Many of these repeat offenders have extensive criminal backgrounds that include drug trafficking, violent crimes, and multiple immigration violations.
Federal agents also uncovered 10 suspects involved in human smuggling operations, along with several cases concerning immigration fraud, assault on federal officers, and threats directed at Border Patrol agents.
Among the high-profile incidents, Maria Isabel Cruz-Salas has been charged with assaulting a federal agent during an immigration enforcement action.
She allegedly kicked an agent in the face, an offense that could carry up to a maximum penalty of eight years in federal prison.
In a separate case, Michelle Lee Varela threatened to shoot a federal agent who was conducting an investigation related to her husband’s immigration status.
Court documents detail that even after receiving warnings, she continued to issue threats and used profanity towards the agent.
U.S. Attorney Ganjei emphasized, ‘The Southern District of Texas takes allegations of threatened violence against law enforcement very seriously.’
He went on to assert the necessity for immigration authorities to perform their duties without the fear of violence or threats.
The enforcement operation also unveiled a significant document fraud ring in South Texas, where investigators discovered counterfeit permanent resident cards and Social Security documents.
The fraud operation was traced back to Paulina Lopez-Bello and Juan Eliud Calva-Lopez, both charged with acquiring these fake documents for $300 to obtain illegal employment in the U.S.
The implications of such charges are serious, with up to 10 years in federal prison and fines of $250,000 expected for those convicted.
Moreover, federal agents disrupted a human smuggling network led by Roberto Carlos Moncada-Pena, another Mexican national.
Moncada-Pena was stopped during a routine traffic checkpoint, where agents found three undocumented immigrants in his vehicle.
Further inspection at his residence uncovered 10 additional undocumented individuals he was sheltering.
The ramifications of such charges can lead to a maximum of 10 years in federal prison and considerable fines for those found guilty.
Chronic immigration violators are also being targeted and are facing substantial prison sentences.
Josue Rodriguez-Rodriguez, who has been deported 10 times, received a lengthy 69-month prison sentence due to illegal reentry.
Other offenders, including Mexican nationals Jose Manuel Cruz-Diaz, Adrian Villa-Morales, and Jose De Jesus Soto-Gonzalez, have each been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 21 to 57 months for similar offenses, all having prior deportations.
In a related financial crime development, Nigerian national Omokehinde Muyiwa Oyegoke-Tewogbade was convicted for leading a $1 million credit card fraud scheme while illegally residing in Houston.
This intricate scheme involved the theft of mail to activate stolen credit cards and expand credit limits, ultimately defrauding Chase Bank out of a staggering $1 million.
Following his federal prison sentence, Oyegoke-Tewogbade will also face deportation proceedings.
The comprehensive enforcement operation’s success showcases the coordinated effort of various federal agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the FBI, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
These efforts align with a nationwide Department of Justice initiative named Operation Take Back America, which seeks to strengthen border security and immigration enforcement across the country.
U.S. Attorney Ganjei noted that this operation marshals extensive resources to counter illegal immigration and combat the influence of cartels and transnational criminal organizations, all in the interest of public safety.
In summary, as protests simmer across Houston against stringent immigration policies, the federal government continues its concentrated efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and related crimes, reflecting a complex and ongoing national conversation on these critical issues.
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