An immigration enforcement operation took a dramatic turn on Monday when a suspected MS-13 gang member, attempting a desperate escape, found himself precariously perched on the sign of a Houston-area business.
Marlon Odir Gomez Hernandez, a 29-year-old illegal immigrant from El Salvador, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers after becoming stranded mid-climb.
Gomez was encountered during a targeted enforcement operation, but immediately tried to flee. His escape route involved running inside a ‘washateria,’ climbing through the ceiling panels to reach the roof, and then descending onto the business’s large street sign—where he was ultimately unable to move.
Gomez Hernandez’s criminal background includes a prior arrest in El Salvador on January 26, 2022, alongside six other suspected MS-13 gang members for aggravated extortion. His date of illegal entry into the U.S. is currently unknown.
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Houston Field Office Director Bret Bradford commented on the incident, expressing concern over the danger posed to the community.
“Once again, an illegal alien put the local community in danger by recklessly fleeing from ICE officers who were simply enforcing immigration laws that have been on the books for decades,” Bradford stated. “Unfortunately, this has become a daily occurrence for our officers here in Houston thanks to the violent rhetoric being spewed by elected officials encouraging illegal aliens to resist enforcement of the same laws they established.”
ICE officers successfully and safely brought Gomez Hernandez down from the sign. He has since been taken to the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, where he is being held pending the disposition of his immigration proceedings.
READ: Nightmare Neighbor Jailed: Florida Man Who Kicked In Doors, Assaulted Victims Gets Life
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
