ICE arrested 4,170 people in 10 days in Texas in the “Lone Star Mission” operation
Dallas, Texas — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported that “Lone Star Mission,” a coordinated statewide operation in Texas, ended with 4,170 arrests in 10 days, between October 19 and 29, in one of the fastest single-state enforcement operations reported by the agency.
The operation brought together the five regional offices of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Texas —Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, and Harlingen— in coordination with sheriffs, local police, and National Guard members authorized to make immigration arrests, according to DHS.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin presented the results at a press conference in Dallas and said more than 60% of those arrested had criminal histories. The department highlighted cases of people with convictions or charges for murder, sexual assault, drunk driving, and migrant smuggling. North Texas accounted for 879 of the arrests, NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth reported.
Mullin also said ICE officers in Texas have detained more than 136,000 people from October 2025 through September 30, 2026, and assured that targeted operations will continue. “Lone Star Mission” is distinct from Gov. Greg Abbott's state program, “Operation Lone Star,” although it took place after more than 400 Texas law enforcement agencies signed 287(g) cooperation agreements with ICE, with more than 140 additional agreements pending.
Press reports noted, however, that DHS did not publish a breakdown showing how many of those detained had convictions, how many faced pending charges, and how many were arrested solely for immigration violations, a point immigrant advocacy organizations have questioned since the results were announced.
Photo: Texas Gazette