ICE Deports Two Mexican Homicide Fugitives From Houston
What happens when ICE finds a foreign fugitive living in your city — and what does it mean for you? On July 21, 2026, ICE officers from the Houston Field Office deported two Mexican nationals wanted for homicide back to Mexico, where authorities were waiting to take them into custody. The case shows how quickly removal proceedings can move once an immigration judge signs a removal order.
Agustin Morales-Renteria and Juan Becerra Ruiz, both 24, were transferred from the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas, to the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge in Laredo, where Mexican authorities took custody of them. Morales-Renteria is wanted in Mexico for aggravated homicide. Becerra Ruiz is wanted for intentional homicide in the state of Querétaro.
How each case moved through removal proceedings
Morales-Renteria first crossed the border illegally in September 2021 and was expelled the same day under Title 42 (a public health rule that allowed rapid expulsions during the COVID-19 pandemic). A Mexican regional attorney general's office issued an arrest warrant for him on October 19, 2021. He re-entered the US illegally shortly before that date. ICE encountered him in December 2024 at a Missouri sheriff's office after a local arrest, but no immigration action was taken at that time under the enforcement priorities then in place. He was later convicted of being an undocumented person in possession of a firearm and sentenced to 18 months in federal prison. After his sentence, he was transferred to ICE custody on May 21, 2026. An immigration judge ordered his removal on July 2, 2026, and ICE carried out that order on July 21, 2026.
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Becerra Ruiz entered the US on an unknown date. In May 2026, US Border Patrol received notice of his arrest warrant and his location in the Houston area. Border Patrol agents detained him during a traffic stop in Spring, Texas, on June 4, 2026, and transferred him to ICE. An immigration judge ordered his removal on June 30, 2026. ICE removed him on July 21, 2026 — less than seven weeks after his initial detention.
ERO Houston Acting Field Office Director Gabriel Martinez said his office would continue to prioritize enforcement actions that target public safety threats, and pushed back against what he called misinformation from groups opposing immigration enforcement. ICE urged anyone with information about foreign fugitives to call the ICE Tip Line at 1-866-347-2423.
What to do if you or someone you know is detained by ICE
- Contact an immigration lawyer immediately. You have the right to legal representation in immigration court, though the government is not required to provide one for free.
- If an immigration judge issues a removal order, you generally have 30 days to file an appeal with the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). Missing that window can end your options.
- If you need more time before removal, a lawyer can file a Motion to Reopen your case — but that must be filed within 90 days of the removal order.
- If you are at risk of deportation and want to delay removal while your case is reviewed, ask a lawyer about filing Form I-246 (a Stay of Deportation request). The filing fee is $155.
A full breakdown of this topic — in our guide “Appealing to the BIA”.
Fishkin Law Firm, New York
These two cases show how a criminal conviction — even a state-level arrest — can trigger a transfer to ICE custody and fast-track removal proceedings. If you have any prior arrests or convictions, even minor ones, an immigration attorney should review your record before ICE does. Once a removal order is signed, the clock starts immediately: you have 30 days to appeal to the BIA, and missing that deadline is very hard to undo. Consult an immigration attorney as soon as possible if you think you may be at risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can ICE deport someone before their criminal sentence is finished?
Not usually. In Morales-Renteria's case, ICE took custody after he completed his federal prison sentence. ICE typically waits for a criminal sentence to end before executing a removal order, but the immigration court process can run at the same time as a criminal case.
How fast can a removal order be carried out after an immigration judge signs it?
Very fast. Becerra Ruiz was detained on June 4, ordered removed on June 30, and deported on July 21 — about six weeks total. Once a judge signs a removal order and no appeal is filed, ICE can act quickly.
What is the deadline to appeal a removal order?
You have 30 days from the date of the removal order to file an appeal with the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA). After that window closes, your options become very limited.
Does a local arrest (not a conviction) put me at risk of ICE detention?
Yes. In Morales-Renteria's case, ICE first encountered him after a local arrest in Missouri. Even if charges are dropped, an arrest can alert ICE to your presence. If you have been arrested, speak with an immigration lawyer before your next court date.