Before dawn on Halloween, a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in southwest Houston caused unrest among residents.
Erik Cornejo, a lifelong Houston resident and U.S. citizen, claims he was mistreated during the operation, alleging that masked agents surrounded his vehicle and sprayed mace without warning or identification.
Cornejo recounted noticing several unmarked vehicles before his path was blocked. He said an agent sprayed mace through his truck window, causing severe eye irritation and temporary vision impairment.
In distress, he called 911 for help. Cornejo alleges that responding police officers initially refused to provide a report number, which he later obtained with assistance from attorney Bianca Santorini.
Reports from FIEL Houston, an immigrant advocacy group, indicated similar encounters. One individual was stopped on a sidewalk while walking to work, another was pulled from his vehicle outside his apartment, and an 82-year-old driver transporting adults with disabilities had his van struck during the operation.
Santorini, who arrived at the crash scene, noted that only the elderly driver received an incident report and no citations were issued.
Cornejo, who asserts a clean criminal record, suggested that agents may have mistaken him for an immigrant. Since the incident, he says he feels unsafe, frequently checking for cars following him.
ICE responded to KPRC 2 News, stating that claims from FIEL were inaccurate. The agency said no U.S. citizens were detained in Houston and described the operation as targeted and intelligence-based.
ICE noted a van with a suspect registration failed to stop, causing a collision with an ICE vehicle, which was reported to the Houston Police Department.
Tricia McLaughlin, spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, said ICE currently detains roughly 66,000 individuals, nearly half without criminal charges or convictions—a record high.
FIEL reported that several individuals apprehended during the operation were transferred to a detention center in Tyler, Texas, creating additional challenges for their families.
Cornejo emphasized the need for public awareness, stating, “If this happened to me — and I’m a U.S. citizen — imagine what happens to the people they call aliens. They’re human too.” FIEL plans to release additional video footage of the events, while ICE maintains that the operation was conducted lawfully.
