ICE Announces New Houston Arrests

ICE Announces New Houston Arrests

By | Texas Scorecard | May 30, 2025

As U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announces a wave of new arrests in a Houston drug case involving illegal aliens, the Houston Police Department is drawing scrutiny for delaying the release of bodycam footage tied to incidents when ICE was called in for support.

ICE announced the arrest of multiple individuals connected to a wide-reaching drug trafficking scheme earlier this week. According to ICE, a 29-count indictment has been filed following the arrests of nine men allegedly involved in a narcotics operation that used the U.S. Mail and even a taco truck to distribute illicit drugs.

All nine defendants, each a resident of Houston, have already made their initial court appearances. Meanwhile, three additional individuals are awaiting their first appearance before a judge, and three others remain fugitives. Those being sought include Mexican national Jose Francisco Garcia-Martinez, Guatemalan national Marcos Rene Simaj-Guch, and Jose Eduardo Morales.

“This drug trafficking organization imported methamphetamine directly from Mexico and used the U.S. mail, a taco truck, and homes in different Houston neighborhoods to distribute and sell methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

“Several of the defendants are also alleged to have used firearms in furtherance of their narcotics trafficking and illegally possessed firearms despite having previously been convicted of felonies,” added Galeotti. “The Criminal Division, along with our federal, state, and local partners, will continue to work tirelessly to combat the scourge of drug trafficking in communities.”

The indictment alleges the trafficking operation dealt in multiple substances, including methamphetamine, powder cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, oxycodone, Xanax, psilocybin mushrooms, and marijuana.

Except for Guatemalan national Marcos Rene Simaj-Guch, who faces a maximum of 40 years in prison, all the defendants could receive life sentences if convicted. Additionally, three of the men face firearm-related charges that could add up to 15 years to their potential prison terms.

The arrests come amid controversy surrounding cooperation between Houston police and ICE. The Houston Police Department recently disclosed that it would take at least 220 days and cost approximately $4,000 to release records, including bodycam footage, related to several incidents in which ICE was called for assistance. HPD officials cite a significant backlog as the reason for the delay.

In January, Houston Mayor John Whitmire stated, “HPD has not participated in federal efforts. HPD enforces state laws and will hold violators of state law, violent offenders accountable, regardless of your immigration status.”

Since that statement, records show that from January through April, HPD officers contacted ICE for assistance at the scene of investigations on 22 separate occasions. The $4,000 fee for public records is based on a standard rate of $10 per video and an additional $1 per minute of footage released. These charges are legal and routine, and are only waived or reduced when the agency determines the release is in the public’s best interest.

Michael Wilson is a 5th generation Texan, born and raised just outside of Houston, Texas. He is a devout Christian as well as a husband and father of 2 beautiful children. He fights for Houston daily as a radio host on Patriot Talk 920 AM. @sirmichaelwill