HOUSTON, TEXAS — As federal immigration authorities report arresting 214 illegal immigrants charged or convicted of child sex offenses in the Houston area over the past six months, Harris County has spent more than $1.1 million this fiscal year on legal services for immigrants facing deportation — including those with criminal records.
The 214 arrests, announced by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) this month, have already exceeded the total for all of fiscal year 2024. ICE officials say the rise is the result of daily operations by new multiagency targeting teams focused on removing what the agency calls the “worst of the worst” criminal offenders.
“Bringing together the resources and expertise of the entire federal law enforcement community to confront the overwhelming surge of illegal immigration that we saw over the past four years has resulted in the arrest and removal of historic numbers of violent criminal aliens, transnational gang members, and child sex offenders,” said Paul McBride, acting field office director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Houston.
Meanwhile, Harris County has allocated $1,141,056 in taxpayer funds during fiscal year 2025 to cover legal representation for immigrants in removal proceedings or immigration detention, according to public records. Two publicly funded programs — the Immigrant Legal Services Fund (ILSF) and Survivor Services in Immigration Law (SSIL) — account for the spending.
The ILSF, established in 2020 with an initial $2 million investment, provides direct representation to individuals detained in local ICE facilities, including minors previously in custody. So far this fiscal year, Harris County has spent $877,750 on the program. Legal service providers include BakerRipley, YMCA International Services, Kids in Need of Defense, and other immigration-focused nonprofits.
The SSIL program offers free legal assistance to undocumented adults, children, and families who are survivors of crimes such as sex trafficking, domestic servitude, and other forms of exploitation. It partners with most of the same nonprofits as ILSF, with the addition of the Tahirih Justice Center.
Both programs are overseen by the Harris County Housing and Community Development Department and prioritize access to legal aid “regardless of the strength of their case or the person’s criminal record,” according to the ILSF website.
In fiscal year 2024, the county spent more than $2 million on similar legal services.
County leaders are divided on the funding. Commissioner Lesley Briones said in a December 2024 meeting that “Harris County is committed to continuing support of the Immigration Legal Services Fund, which funds nonprofits that provide legal and wraparound services to immigrants.”
Commissioner Tom Ramsey has consistently opposed the expenditures, arguing that taxpayer money should not be used to defend individuals in deportation proceedings and calling for full cooperation with ICE.
ICE reported that recent arrests included individuals with multiple prior deportations and convictions for crimes such as aggravated sexual assault of a child, sexual indecency with a minor, and illegal reentry. Some were removed within days of their arrest, while others remain in custody pending deportation.
The agency’s Houston field office oversees enforcement across 57 counties in Southeast Texas, from Waco to the Gulf Coast. ICE operations are supported by federal agencies including the FBI, DEA, ATF, CBP, U.S. Marshals, and state and local law enforcement.
Members of the public can report suspected criminal activity or tips by calling 866-347-2423 or using ICE’s online reporting portal.
