DHS says Ochoa Briseño was arrested in a targeted operation and removed under a final order
Federal executive department overseeing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
“On Sept. 21, ICE arrested Teresa de Jesus Ochoa Briseno, an illegal alien from Mexico, during a targeted operation in Alamo, Texas. During the arrest Ochoa Briseno repeatedly refused lawful commands from ICE officers and was warned repeatedly about her failure to comply. Ochoa Briseno was arrested without further incident. She was issued a final order of removal and was returned to her home country on Sept. 21.”
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Border Report's interview with Luis Ochoa outside the U.S. Customs and Border Protection processing facility in Edinburg where his mother was held, and with his attorney, Carlos Moctezuma Garcia. It includes Ochoa's account of the Sept. 11 arrests, including his statement that agents said they would pick up relatives without papers, DHS's statement on his mother's arrest and DHS's account of her immigration history.
Reporting
About this source
Report on Rep. Henry Cuellar's Sept. 22 visit to the Rio Grande Valley. It quotes Cuellar on his requests for body camera video from DHS and for an investigation, and it reproduces two DHS statements, one on the Sept. 11 arrests and one on the arrest and removal of Teresa Ochoa Briseño.
Before the quotation
Border Report reported that DHS, in response to its questions, confirmed the arrest and deportation.
After the quotation
In a further comment to Border Report, a DHS spokesperson said Ochoa Briseño entered the country illegally around June 2025, received a voluntary return on July 13, 2025 and reentered at an unknown time and place.
How this statement is classified
Responding to: ICE arrested Teresa Ochoa Briseño during a targeted operation and removed her under an order of removal after she returned to the United States without authorization following a July 2025 voluntary return.
The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.
Why this label?
DHS presents the arrest and removal as enforcement action under a final order of removal it says was issued to her, which defends the action under review. The statement does not address the allegation that the arrest was retaliation.
- Recorded on
- Published here
- People and groups discussed
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Was ICE's deportation of Teresa Ochoa Briseño retaliation for her family speaking out?
Explore the case context, sources and public responses.
More from this case
Read the full case“That’s too big of a coincidence to believe that she is detained just a week after her United States citizen child was unlawfully detained and arrested and so it’s definitely a message. And in this country it’s something very disconcerting. Because in this country we cherish the First Amendment. We believe that we have a right to speak out against injustice. But this is a clear message, in my opinion this is a clear message that ICE is sending about what the repercussions are for people who decide to speak out.”Read statement
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
“Briseno was removed to Mexico on July 13, 2025 after accepting a voluntary return following her local arrest on July 11, 2025 for assault causing bodily harm to a family member. Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office released Briseno to ICE and, on the same day, she was removed to Mexico. On an unknown date and location, Briseno illegally reentered the U.S. On Sept. 21, Briseno was served with an order of expedited removal and deported to Mexico. This administration will uphold immigration law and remove criminal illegal aliens to their home country.”Read statement