AUSTIN, Texas — Social media claims alleging that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained minors during a raid on a Texas residence in early April 2025 are largely accurate, according to multiple official sources and investigative reporting.
Claim: ICE raided a home in Texas and detained more than 40 individuals, including children.
This Article Includes
- 1 Claim: ICE raided a home in Texas and detained more than 40 individuals, including children.
- 1.1 Related posts
- 1.2 California Man Sentenced in Fatal Shooting of Alleged Trespasser in Cal City
- 1.3 Suspect in Flower Street Double Homicide Had Been Paroled Just Six Days Earlier
- 1.4 Claim: The raid occurred during a child’s birthday party.
- 1.5 Claim: Nine minors were among those detained.
- 1.6 Additional Details from Search Warrant
- 1.7 Legal and Policy Implications
- 2 Conclusion:
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✅ Confirmed.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) confirmed in an April 2, 2025 news release that more than 40 individuals—including minors—were taken into custody at or near a residence in Hays County, following a long-term investigation into the Venezuelan transnational gang Tren de Aragua (TdA). -
The operation involved multiple agencies, including:
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FBI
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ICE and its Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO)
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Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
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Texas DPS
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San Antonio Police Department (SAPD)
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Hays County Sheriff’s Office
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Authorities also seized narcotics at the scene. Charges are still under review.
Claim: The raid occurred during a child’s birthday party.
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✅ Supported by eyewitness accounts.
Reporting by The Texas Tribune and The New Republic confirmed that the raid occurred around 5 a.m. on April 1, 2025, during a birthday celebration. According to interviews with people present, the party was for a 5-year-old boy and a 28-year-old man. -
Attendees described the raid as chaotic, with flashbangs deployed and people shouting to warn agents that “there are babies” in the home.
Claim: Nine minors were among those detained.
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🟨 Partially confirmed.
While official numbers have not been released, The Texas Tribune reviewed public documents and identified nine minors among the 35 people they could track. Snopes and other fact-checkers have not independently reviewed those records. -
ICE and Texas DPS declined to publicly disclose the names or locations of the detained, citing ongoing investigations.
Additional Details from Search Warrant
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The search warrant, published by The Texas Tribune, described the targeted property in detail. A photo from real estate site Compass.com confirms the match between the physical description and the raided house.
The property is a two-story white stone and stucco home with a large in-ground pool, located in Hays County, near Austin.
Legal and Policy Implications
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All 35 identified individuals were reportedly arrested for unlawful entry into the U.S., a federal violation. Deportation proceedings are expected, according to DPS reports.
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ICE has not confirmed whether any of those detained had criminal records or affiliations with Tren de Aragua.
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The incident has intensified scrutiny of ICE operations and sparked protests across Los Angeles, especially amid recent raids in sanctuary jurisdictions.
Conclusion:
The Texas ICE raid did happen, it coincided with a birthday gathering, and minors were among those detained, although official numbers remain unconfirmed. Claims that the raid occurred without cause remain unverified, as authorities continue to cite a year-long investigation targeting alleged gang members.
