Illegal Alien Released in 2021 Arrested for Sexual Assault of Child in Texas

Craig Bannister | August 28, 2024
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“Kamala Harris’ open border agenda let him in,” but now he’s “one more criminal illegal immigrant off our streets,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott said Monday, announcing the arrest of an illegal alien wanted for sexual assault of a child.

“CAPTURED,” the Republican governor declared in a social media post of the news:

“That's one more criminal illegal immigrant off our streets. Kamala Harris’ open border agenda let him in. Texas will continue to arrest these dangerous criminals and put them behind bars.”

In April 2021, the illegal alien was released on his own recognizance (ROR) after being arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and charged with alien removal.

The culprit, 20 year-old Jose Miguel Zelaya-Ponce from Honduras, was arrested Friday by special agents of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Criminal Investigations Division assigned to the Texas Anti-Gang Center in Houston.

Zelaya-Ponce was placed on Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Criminal Illegal Immigrants List earlier this month.

In June, more than three years after he was released in 2021, a final order of removal for Zelaya-Ponce was issued.

Since July, Zelaya-Ponce had been wanted out of Harris County for aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14.

In 2024, DPS and other Texas agencies have arrested 31 Texas 10 Most Wanted fugitives, sex offenders and criminal illegal immigrants, including:

  • 11 sex offenders,
  • 10 gang members,
  • 4 criminal illegal immigrants.