FIRST ON FOX: ICE said federal agents captured members of a South American theft ring believed to be in the U.S. illegally who attacked families in a series of violent armed break-ins across Texas.

According to the agency, the group targeted small business owners across the Lone Star State.

In one incident, video obtained by FOX News shows two masked men holding handguns chasing a screaming resident around his house. The victim was seen being hit by the suspects.

Four suspects have been federally indicted in connection with the break-ins, and two have been convicted.

ICE ARRESTS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ARMED WITH KNIFE, CRACK PIPE IN HOUSTON PARKING LOT

The group is believed to be members of the South American Theft Group (SATG), an organized network of foreign nationals, primarily from South America, who travel throughout the U.S. targeting wealthy homes and businesses by committing burglaries and thefts, according to ICE.

The members, ICE stated, use encrypted messaging apps, burner phones and pre-surveillance of neighborhoods to identify and target victims. Items stolen include high-value jewelry, luxury watches and cash.

ICE said most members of the group are in the U.S. illegally or remain in the country on expired visas.

ICE OPERATION PREVENTS ‘NIGHTMARES AND PTSD’ IN MASSIVE TEXAS OPERATION

One man involved, 38-year-old Joel Hallynson Espinal-Cantareo, is an illegal migrant from Honduras who was convicted and sentenced in September to more than 11 years in federal prison for interference with interstate commerce by robbery, according to ICE. His federal sentence will run consecutively to pending state cases.

Espinal-Cantareo was involved in at least three armed home invasions at residences in Irving, Cedar Hill and Frisco, investigators said. In those incidents, business owners were pistol-whipped, zip-tied and forced to hand over cash and valuable items.

“This 11-year sentence sends a clear message that violent crime and threats to public safety will not be tolerated,” Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Dallas Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard said in a statement. “Espinal-Cantareo’s actions affected small businesses and endangered lives. This significant sentence reflects the seriousness of those crimes. ICE will continue to work closely with our federal, state and local partners to protect our communities and bring violent offenders to justice.”

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Three suspects were indicted after HSI presented the federal case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Sherman. A fourth suspect, who was prosecuted separately by the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, has since been convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Two other cases are still pending, according to ICE.

ICE said it has issued an immigration detainer to ensure Espinal-Cantareo is transferred to federal immigration custody when he finishes his federal sentence. The agency said it will pursue his deportation following his release from federal custody.

While resisting arrest, a pedophile, twice-removed illegal immigrant in Houston, assaulted an ICE officer, resulting in a severe laceration and burns on his face, according to a statement by the Department of Homeland Security.

DHS said that during an operation on Monday in Houston, a Salvadoran illegal immigrant named Walter Leonel Perez Rodriguez “brutally beat” an ICE officer with a metal coffee cup, resulting in the injuries.

The agency said the officer suffered burns to the side of his face and a severe laceration to his mouth, resulting in 13 stitches.

This comes as Homeland Security law enforcement officers are facing a 1,000% increase in assaults in the line of duty, according to the agency.

ICE ARRESTS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ARMED WITH KNIFE, CRACK PIPE IN HOUSTON PARKING LOT

According to DHS, Perez Rodriguez first entered the U.S. at an unknown date and location without inspection over 15 years ago. An immigration judge issued a removal order against Perez Rodriguez on June 11, 2013, and he was removed that same month. However, he re-entered the country illegally at an unknown time and was again removed by ICE on Feb. 24, 2020.

Besides repeat illegal re-entry, which is a felony, DHS said that Perez Rodriguez has a criminal record that includes a conviction for a sexual assault of a child under 17 years old, child fondling and multiple DUIs.

The agency said he is now in ICE custody and “can no longer pose a threat to Americans.”

Commenting on the incident, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said that “This repeated criminal illegal alien is about to find out the hard way that there’s a new sheriff in town—and under President Trump and Secretary Noem, anyone who lays a hand on our ICE officers will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

MASSIVE ICE OPERATION NETS GANG MEMBERS, MURDERERS, CHILD PREDATORS: ‘WREAKED HAVOC’

She decried the rise in assaults against federal law enforcement, saying, “Our brave ICE officers are facing record-high assaults” as “they lock up pedophiles and other depraved criminals to keep American families safe.”

This comes shortly after ICE and other federal and Texas officials carried out a massive 10-day operation in Houston that resulted in over 1,500 arrests, including of aggravated felons, gang members, sexual predators, a murderer and others.

In a Wednesday statement, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Field Office Director Bret Bradford announced that “despite the conditions becoming increasingly dangerous for our officers as a result of the spread of violent political rhetoric and intentionally false information,” agents arrested 1,505 illegal aliens in a southeast Texas operation that ran Oct. 22-31.

Bradford said the arrests of gang members, child predators and other violent criminals “prevented countless Houstonians from having to suffer from the nightmares and PTSD that come with being a victim of violent crime.”

In total, the October operation resulted in the arrests of 17 documented gang members, 40 aggravated felons, one convicted murderer and 13 sexual predators, according to the ICE statement. Offenses committed by those arrested included 115 aggravated assaults, 142 DWIs, 55 drug offenses and 31 weapons offenses. The agency also said that 255 of those arrested had been previously deported from the U.S. at least once.

ICE HOUSTON ARRESTS MORE THAN 350 GANG MEMBERS — AND IT’S NOT JUST MS-13

Nearly one-third of those arrested have been ordered removed from the U.S. by an immigration judge, according to ICE.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

ICE has carried out several large-scale enforcement operations in the Houston area this year, including one in August that resulted in 822 arrests and another in February and March that led to 543 arrests.

Texas is joining Oklahoma and Florida in trying to ensure that a Turning Point USA chapter is established at every high school and college within their state.

“I had a long call with Turning Point executives yesterday about putting TPUSA chapters on every high school and college campus in Texas,” Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick posted on X on Friday.

Patrick announced that he is pledging $1 million of campaign funds to launch new Turning Point USA Chapters across the Lone Star state.

TURNING POINT’S ‘CLUB AMERICA’ CHAPTERS AND WHY THEY’RE GROWING IN OKLAHOMA AND THE SOUTH

Patrick and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will be speaking at the University of Houston on Tuesday, hosted by the college’s TPUSA chapter, his post on X stated.

“As we wrapped up the call, I shared a fond memory of Charlie from President Trump’s 2017 Inauguration. Charlie and I were going to the Trump Hotel to celebrate and walked in the door at the same time. We began a conversation from there,” he said.

“I committed a million dollars from my campaign to honor that young man from many years ago who shared his dream with me and in hopes others will follow at any amount — whether it’s $10 or much more. He gave his life for his mission. He gave his life for Christ,” Patrick said.

Patrick, who has already been endorsed by President Donald Trump for his re-election campaign, reported over $33.5 million in donations.

FLORIDA VOWS LEGAL ACTION AGAINST ANY EFFORTS TO BLOCK TPUSA CHAPTERS ON CAMPUS

Kirk’s assassination on Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University has pushed TPUSA to its greatest prominence yet. 

“I was always inspired by his mission ‘to identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote the principles of freedom, free markets, and limited government.’ Charlie was confident he could do that. Later, he brought his faith into his discussions on campus with boldness and conviction that only grew his following,” Patrick said.

Patrick added that since Kirk’s death, “over 135,000 requests have been made to start TPUSA chapters.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Texas-based TPUSA field representative Paige Rasmussen cited “unprecedented growth” of TPUSA chapters after Kirk’s assassination in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.

TURNING POINT USA SAYS CAMPUS CHAPTER REQUESTS SURGE TO OVER 32,000 AFTER KIRK’S ASSASSINATION

Other states that are seeking to install a TPUSA chapter at every high school and college are Florida and Oklahoma.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a partnership with TPUSA to ensure Club America chapters can be established in any high school in the Sunshine State.

In the wake of Kirk’s assassination, a growing number of high-schoolers and college students across the country have stepped up to start TPUSA chapters.