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July 17, 2025Houston, TX, United StatesNational Security

Homeland Security Task Force created in Houston

HSTF to combat emerging transnational criminal threats

HOUSTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Houston field office and FBI Houston announced the establishment of a regional Homeland Security Task Force July 17 to combat emerging threats from transnational criminal organizations in Southeast Texas.

The task force was created as a regional component to the national Homeland Security Task Force established by the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice pursuant to an executive order issued by President Donald J. Trump on Jan. 29 to protect the American people from invasion by transnational criminals.

The Houston HSTF’s objective is to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs and transnational criminal organizations operating in Southeast Texas through a collaborative, whole-of-government approach. To accomplish this mission, the HSTF will conduct intelligence-driven, multijurisdictional investigations targeting drug trafficking, money laundering, weapons trafficking, human trafficking, alien smuggling, homicide, extortion, kidnapping, child exploitation and other transnational crimes. The Houston HSTF will work closely with state and local partners to identify, investigate and eliminate violent criminal organizations and associates operating in communities throughout Southeast Texas.

“As transnational criminal organizations, foreign terrorist organizations, drug cartels, foreign gangs and other bad actors continue to evolve and become more sophisticated, it’s vital that we work together as a law enforcement community to find transformative ways to confront emerging threats,” said HSI Houston Special Agent in Charge Chad Plantz. “This is especially true in Southeast Texas, where we face a myriad of unique border-related challenges and threats from transnational criminal organizations. By establishing this permanently integrated multiagency task force with dedicated personnel from federal, state and local law enforcement working side-by-side with a common mission, we will be better postured to detect and respond to any type of threat we might face.”

“Foreign terror organizations who profit off violence, drugs and human lives now face a united front unseen before in Houston,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams. “For the first time, law enforcement and intelligence agencies are focused on hunting down and eradicating transnational criminals within Houston communities. Federal, state and local police will coordinate with the U.S. Intelligence Community and overseas partners to efficiently eliminate newly designated terrorists wreaking havoc in our neighborhoods.”

The HSTF will be headquartered in Houston and have a satellite office in Corpus Christi. The heads of HSI Houston and FBI Houston will co-lead the task force with input from a regional executive committee comprised of leaders from participating agencies. Task force personnel will include law enforcement agents, intelligence analysts and professional staff.

Participating agencies will include the Drug Enforcement Administration, the ATF, the U.S. Marshals Service, the IRS’ Criminal Investigative Division, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations, the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area director, U.S. attorneys from the Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas, and other federal, state and local partners.

For more news and information on HSI Houston and the Houston Homeland Security Task Force follow us on X at @HSIHouston or at @FBIHouston.

Updated: 07/17/2025