Sat Mar 01 14:30:00 UTC 2025: **ICE Arrests Over 100 in Houston-Area Operation, Sparking Family Outcry**

LIBERTY COUNTY, Texas – A large-scale Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in the Colony Ridge development north of Houston has resulted in the arrest of over 100 individuals, prompting concerns and outrage from affected families. ICE officials confirmed 118 arrests this week.

Among those detained is Erik Payan, a tire shop owner whose wife, Alejandra Morales, claims his business was targeted without a warrant. Morales stated that ICE agents only presented photographs of businesses, including Payan’s tire shop, during the arrest. She insists her husband, the primary provider for their family, has a clean record, despite a 20-year-old DUI and aggravated assault charge that was later dismissed. Morales explains that the charges stemmed from a car accident where he was an unconscious passenger.

The family is facing significant hardship. Payan’s daughter is hospitalized for a leg amputation, and he is also covering medical expenses for a grandchild’s recent heart surgery. Morales is now left to navigate these challenges alone, having hired an attorney but expressing deep uncertainty about the future.

While Payan’s immigration status is unclear – records show he entered the country on a work visa and overstayed – Morales maintains that he has always been a law-abiding citizen and a contributing member of the community. KHOU 11 News has reached out to ICE Houston for clarification on the arrest warrant and is awaiting a response. The incident has sparked a broader debate about the impact of ICE operations on families and local businesses.

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