The U.S. Department of Justice reported the arrest of 78 immigrants suspected of immigration crimes during a three-day operation in the Rio Grande Valley, South Texas.
The action is part of the “Pick-Off” operation, which seeks to identify and prosecute people who are in the country undocumented and who also have criminal records.
Operation in the Rio Grande Valley
The operation began on August 22 and was deployed in Cameron, Willacy, Hidalgo and Starr counties, border areas with high immigration flows.
According to the official statement, the goal is to cover the 43 counties under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, one of the most active regions in immigration prosecutions nationwide.
The operation involved several federal agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), reflecting the magnitude of the coordination involved.
Profile of detainees
Of the 78 people arrested:
65 were previously deported immigrants serving probation following convictions for state crimes, including drug possession and distribution, assault and other criminal charges. These individuals now face federal charges of illegal re-entry, a crime that can carry several years in prison before further removal from the country.
11 were charged with immigration-related violations, and according to Buzzy authorities, they could be deported immediately.
The remaining two, also on probation, face misdemeanor charges of evading examination or review by immigration officials.
Message from the Prosecutor’s Office
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, Nicholas Ganjei, warned that these operations will continue in the border region.
“If you are here illegally and commit crimes in our community, you can expect our visit, and that visit will come sooner rather than later,” he stated.
His words reflect the “zero tolerance” policy that has characterized operations in Texas, a state that in recent years has been at the center of the national discussion on immigration and border security.
Relevance to the Hispanic community
The news generates special attention among the Hispanic community in the U.S., as the Rio Grande Valley is home to a large population of Mexican and Central American origin.
Many families live in uncertainty about how these operations may affect their loved ones, especially those with open immigration proceedings or awaiting hearings.
The operations also revive the debate about the impact they have on local communities.
While some sectors see them as a necessary measure to maintain security, immigrant rights organizations denounce that these actions generate fear and distrust towards the authorities, even among those with legal status.
Next steps
The Department of Justice announced that Operation Pick-Off will be extended in the coming months to other Texas counties under federal jurisdiction.
The cases of the detained individuals will be evaluated in immigration and federal courts, depending on the background of each individual.
In the meantime, immigration attorneys in the region recommend that families stay informed about their rights in the event of an operation, including the right to remain silent, not to sign documents without legal counsel, and to request the presence of an attorney before responding to authorities.
If you are here illegally and commit crimes in our community, you can expect our visit, and that visit will come sooner rather than later
Nicholas Ganjei
