FBI & Homeland Security Establish San Antonio Task Force Following Mass Arrests
SAN ANTONIO, TX – In the wake of a large-scale detention of approximately 140 individuals on November 16, the FBI and Homeland Security have announced the establishment of a regional Homeland Security Task Force base in San Antonio, designated as the ”South Texas leg.” Officials highlighted the recent raid as a key example of the task force’s mission to combat “sophisticated cartels, foreign terrorist organizations, and transnational gangs.”
The operation,conducted in collaboration with the Texas Department of Public Safety,targeted the alleged presence of the “Tren de Aragua” criminal institution,though authorities have not publicly confirmed any definitive gang affiliations among those arrested.
currently, two Honduran nationals detained in the raid face charges of illegal re-entry into the United States. Both individuals had previously been deported, one in August 2023 and the other in March 2025. They could face up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. Federal sentencing guidelines indicate that individuals deported after convictions for aggravated felonies or three or more misdemeanors face significantly longer sentences – up to 20 years in prison. This suggests the two men currently charged do not have extensive criminal records.
The mass arrests have sparked both fear and outrage within the San Antonio community. Reports of increased ICE presence are circulating on social media, reminiscent of activity following former President Donald Trump’s calls for mass deportation.
The party for Socialism and Liberation San Antonio organized a protest near the site of the raid, calling for change.Protestors allege that law enforcement responded with hostility, including pointing rifles and deploying smoke bombs, according to prior reporting by MySA.
“I’m hear in solidarity with the people who were picked up last night,” stated Denise Richter,a retired Palo alto College professor,at the protest. “I’m just sick to my stomach. This is not my America. Immigrants are what have made this country strong. I’m a proud descendent of immigrants. It’s awful.”
The newly formed south Texas Task Force aims to bolster efforts against transnational criminal activity in the region, building on the momentum of the November 16 operation. Further details regarding the ongoing investigations and the status of those detained are expected to be released as they become available.
