The Drug Enforcement Agency on Monday confirmed to the San Antonio Report that it assisted the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other federal law enforcement partners with their immigration enforcement efforts in San Antonio on Sunday.
“We can confirm that The DEA Houston division assisted DHS with their targeted enforcement actions on Sunday. We’ve assisted in several cities to include Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Brownsville, Laredo and McAllen,” said DEA spokeswoman Sally Sparks.
Reports of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids began after President Donald Trump vowed to deport “millions and millions” of immigrants back to their home countries in his inaugural address last week and began signing a flurry of executive orders.
Those orders include sending more active duty troops to help with border barriers and removal flights; opened the door to arrests in schools, churches and hospitals; and cleared the way for authorities to begin removing migrants who were legally admitted to the U.S. under the previous administration.
ICE did not respond to questions about the number of people arrested or number of targeted operations conducted.
On Sunday, Gov. Greg Abbott posted on X that troopers and special agents with the Texas Department of Public Safety were deployed across the state that day to assist the DHS with targeted operations to arrest undocumented immigrants.
Those operations will expand this week, Abbott posted.
The San Antonio Police Department confirmed on Monday that it would comply with laws that allow local law enforcement to arrest people whom they suspect have entered the country illegally, but would not say whether the police took part in any targeted operations on Sunday.
Bexar County Sheriff’s Office hasn’t responded to a request for comment on its involvement in any raids or arrests this weekend.
Over the weekend, multiple people organized protests on the streets of San Antonio as fears of deportation raids increased in the days since Trump was sworn in for his second term.
On the South Side, San Antonians held up Mexican flags and posters, some which said, “No one is illegal on stolen land.”
In downtown, more groups formed at the San Antonio Liberation Center to hear from attorneys and immigration advocates. At another spot downtown at Milam Park, more protesters gathered to “stand for those who can’t,” in response to the promise of mass deportations targeting immigrants.
Local leaders and people who serve migrant communities are working to help residents in need of assistance with preparing official documents and who may need legal consultation. Read more about those efforts here.
