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Trump Administration Deported Venezuelans Without U.S. Convictions, Records Reveal

Que Onda Editorial
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Trump Administration Deported Venezuelans Without U.S. Convictions, Records Reveal

Newly obtained Department of Homeland Security (DHS) data shows that the Trump administration deported 238 Venezuelan men to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador—despite knowing that more than half had no criminal record in the U.S.

Deportation Amid Controversy

In March 2025, these Venezuelan immigrants were branded as “terrorists” and forcibly removed under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. Officials claimed they belonged to Tren de Aragua, a violent gang, yet government data reveals that only 32 of them had U.S. convictions—mostly for minor offenses like retail theft and traffic violations.

Few Violent Offenses, Many with None

Of the deported group, only six had been convicted of violent crimes in the U.S. Moreover, 130 were found to have no criminal record beyond immigration violations.

“Many of these people had no due process,” Lee Gelernt, lead attorney with the ACLU, told the Texas Tribune calling the deportations “a fundamental violation of due process.”

Discrepancies in Gang Allegations

Although DHS claimed tattoos and social media posts were evidence of gang ties, no deportees matched known gang member lists from Interpol or Venezuelan police. Law enforcement experts emphasized that tattoos are unreliable indicators of gang affiliation.

Political Motivations

Immigration experts noted that the administration appeared to use the deportations to bolster its anti-immigrant narrative.

“There’s a gap between rhetoric and reality,” said John Sandweg, former acting director of ICE.

Personal Stories of Loss

Families were left reeling. Leidys Trejo Solórzano said her brother, Leonardo José Colmenares Solórzano, was a youth soccer coach with no criminal record.

“Even talking about it is hard for me,” she told the Texas Tribune.

Ongoing Legal Challenges

Legal battles are underway, with courts examining the administration’s authority to deport immigrants without trial. The controversy also highlights concerns over indefinite detention and potential suspension of habeas corpus rights.

Conclusion

Despite administration claims, DHS data shows that most deported Venezuelans were not dangerous criminals, raising questions about the true motives behind their removal and the human toll of immigration enforcement.

For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Fugitive Friday: Crime Stoppers seeks help locating the following fugitives

Que Onda Editorial
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Fugitive Friday: Crime Stoppers seeks help locating the following fugitives

HOUSTON – In an effort to keep our neighborhoods safe, Crime Stoppers of Houston and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office are seeking the public’s help locating the following individuals that have active Felony and/or Misdemeanor Warrants. 

Crime Stoppers may pay up to $5,000 for information leading to the location and arrest of the suspects featured. Information may be reported by calling 713-222-TIPS (8477), submitted online at www.crime-stoppers.org or through the Crime Stoppers mobile app. All tipsters remain anonymous. Only tips and calls DIRECTLY TO Crime Stoppers are anonymous and eligible for a cash reward.

All warrants are active at the time this post was created and is subject to change. Crime Stoppers of Houston is not making any legal claims that this is the most current legal status. 

The wording in this press release is intentional and may have legal implications. Please ensure that the reward information paragraph above remains unchanged.

AUSTIN JEFFREY MIKAEL BAKER

W/M      6’04”/170 Lbs.      Bln/Blu
Warrant #: 1914488
EVADING ARREST/DETENTION W/VEH
Last known location: Houston Texas

NELSON BROWN

B/M      5’09”/155 Lbs.      Blk/Bro
Warrant #: 1901618
UNL POSS FIREARM BY FELON
Last known location: Houston Texas

JANICE MARIE CELESTINE

B/F      5’04”/206 Lbs.      Blk/Bro
Warrant #: 1913276
THEFT <$2,500 2/MORE PREV CONV
Last known location: Houston Texas

SAKIA DENISE DAVIS

B/F      5’02”/202 Lbs.      Blk/Bro
Warrant #: 1915416
ENGAGING IN ORG CRIMINAL ACTIV
Last known location: Houston Texas

JENNIFER MARIE GALLEGOS

W/F      5’02”/150 Lbs.      Blk/Bro
Warrant #: 1915092
THEFT <$2,500 2/MORE PREV CONV
Last known location: Houston Texas

TAYLOR GLEN HAYDEL

W/M      5’08”/165 Lbs.      Bro/Grn
Warrant #: 1905567
THEFT >=2,500 <30,000
Last known location: Houston Texas
 

ANGELA MACE HEILIGER

W/F      5’02”/100 Lbs.      Bro/Bro
Warrant #: 1880238
DWI THIRD
Last known location: Houston Texas

PHILLIP JAMES-LEWIS KING

B/M      6’04”/305 Lbs.      Blk/Bro
Warrant #: 1902116
SOLICIT PROST/OTHER PAYOR
Last known location: Pearland Texas

JOSE ORTIZ

W/M      5’07”/180 Lbs.      Blk/Bro
Warrant #: 1900681
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF >=$2,500<30K
Last known location: New Caney Texas

JAMIE ALLISON WARREN

W/F      5’05”/140 Lbs.      Bro/Blu
Warrant #: 1908914
BURGLARY OF HABITATION
Last known location: Houston Texas

Things you should know about the Crime Stoppers Tip Line Program:

  • Crime Stoppers will NEVER ask you for your name, phone number, address, or any other information that could identify you.
  • We do not record phone calls or have caller id. No one will know you called us unless you tell them.
  • Once you give us your tip, you will be given a code number. This is the only way Crime Stoppers can identify you.
  • You need to remember this number and provide it when you call back to check the status of your tip.
  • CRIME STOPPERS CANNOT CALL YOU with the status because we don’t ask for your phone number.
  • When you call back with your code number, we will let you know if your tip helped law enforcement arrest or charge a felony suspect/fugitive. If it did, we will give you instructions to go to a specific bank on a certain date to pick up your cash reward. You will not be asked to show any id and the money you get does not have to be reported to anyone.
  • Crime Stoppers may pay cash rewards of up to $5,000 on serious crime in the Greater Houston Area. There may be increased rewards available. 
  • The only requirement is you must report your tip directly to the Crime Stoppers Tip Line.

There are 3 ways to report anonymously:

  • By phone by calling 713-222-TIPS(8477)
  • By using our mobile app called Crime Stoppers Houston – download here Crime Stoppers Houston on the App Store OR Crime Stoppers Houston – Apps on Google Play
  • Online at Tip Form

Texas Legislature Approves $8.5 Billion Boost for Public Schools

Edward Saenz
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Texas Legislature Approves $8.5 Billion Boost for Public Schools

The Texas Legislature has passed House Bill 2, providing an $8.5 billion increase in funding for public schools — the largest boost in years.

Key Priorities Funded

HB 2 focuses on salaries for teachers and staff, special education, early childhood education, school safety, and operational costs. Lawmakers finalized the package after weeks of negotiations between the House and Senate.

Raises and Supports for Educators

The bill includes raises of up to $8,000 for teachers, with adjustments based on experience and district size. Schools will also get funding to expand the Teacher Incentive Allotment program, rewarding teachers who show student progress.

Additional Funding, But Not Enough?

Districts will receive $55 per student in basic funding — far below the $395 originally proposed — leaving many school officials concerned about keeping up with inflation.

Addressing Long-Standing Challenges

Beyond raises, HB 2 sets aside funds to help districts cover transportation, utilities, insurance, and other operational costs, plus supports for counselors, librarians, and nurses.

New Programs and Special Education

The legislation also overhauls Texas’ special education funding, launches new mentorship and educator preparation programs, and boosts pre-K and learning disability identification efforts.

Historic Context

This funding package follows years of stagnant support since 2019. Lawmakers delayed significant increases amid debates over vouchers. HB 2 comes after a heated legislative session where vouchers were approved alongside new funding.

Next Steps

Gov. Greg Abbott has pledged to sign the bill into law. Once signed, school districts can begin planning for long-overdue raises and resources to meet their growing needs.

Keep up with the Texas Legislature along with us on Que Onda Magazine.

Stocks Slide as Trump Blasts China Over Trade Deal

Indira Zaldivar
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Stocks Slide as Trump Blasts China Over Trade Deal

Stocks dipped Friday after President Donald Trump accused China of “totally violating” its trade agreement with the U.S., adding fresh uncertainty to already jittery markets.

The Dow fell by 130 points, or 0.3%, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq each dropped around 0.35%.

Trump’s Claims Fuel Trade Tensions

“China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US,” Trump posted online. “So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!”

Markets, already uneasy over trade, saw volatility increase after the Court of International Trade blocked most of Trump’s tariffs midweek. That initial rally faded as investors braced for further legal battles.

Tariff Turmoil and Legal Uncertainty

A federal appeals court on Thursday paused the lower court’s ruling, leaving the status of Trump’s tariffs in limbo.

“The stunning, head-spinning, mind-boggling trade fiasco will not be resolved quickly,” noted Greg Valiere, chief U.S. policy strategist at AGF Investments. He expects the case could reach the Supreme Court, though even that might not end the dispute.

Inflation Data and Consumer Spending

New economic data Friday showed the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure cooled in April, but consumer spending dropped more than expected.

Market Resilience Despite Challenges

Despite the turmoil, the S&P 500 has climbed more than 6% this month, tracking toward its strongest May since 1990.

“Even though the stock market has staged a decisive rebound since the April lows, there is still plenty of uncertainty on tariffs, especially given the legal battle,” said Clark Bellin of Bellwether Wealth.

Dollar Edges Higher

The U.S. dollar gained slightly Friday, but the U.S. dollar index is on pace for its fifth monthly decline in a row.

Outlook: Volatility Ahead

“We expect bouts of market volatility ahead as investors continue to navigate a range of market, economic and geopolitical risks,” said Ulrike Hoffmann-Burchardi, CIO at UBS Global Wealth Management.

The benchmark S&P 500 is up roughly 0.5% year-to-date.

Keep up with U.S. tariffs’ effect on trade with us on Que Onda Magazine.

Weak front brings in scattered storms Friday

ABC13 Houston
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Weak front brings in scattered storms Friday

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — We’re not done with the rain quite yet!

A weak cool front moving in from the north brings our next round of showers and thunderstorms Friday morning. Periods of heavy rain and storms could make for a messy and difficult drive for your morning commute.

As the front pushes south toward the coast this afternoon, it will be the focusing mechanism for some additional showers and storms. Highs will remain in the mid to upper 80s.

In the wake of the front, you can expect slightly drier air moving in for the start of your weekend.

Can you time out the scattered thunderstorms on Friday?

There could be two rounds of storms Friday. One during the morning rush ahead of the front. The other during the afternoon behind the front, most likely south of I-10. The rain shouldn’t be as widespread or intense as what we’ve seen this week.

Will it be just as hot with these rainy days?

Not necessarily! With rain and the inherent cloud cover we typically get during these rainy and stormy days, afternoon high temperatures for this week and into the first few days of June will likely be closer to their seasonal average, in the mid-to-upper 80s. The catch, though, is that if a shower or storm rolls through. While that will cool you off in the short term, it’ll also make it feel extremely muggy at times. We are also expecting mold counts to go up with the week during this unsettled and rainy stretch.

Hurricane season begins Sunday. What can we expect this season?

Hurricane season begins on June 1, and this year we are anticipating another active one. Both hurricane outlooks from NOAA and Colorado State University predict an above-normal season. From NOAA specifically, the prediction is 13 to 19 named storms, six to 10 hurricanes, and possibly three to five major hurricanes. Two big reasons are the lack of an El Niño or La Niña and the trend of seeing warmer-than-normal ocean temperatures. And while these outlooks aren’t landfall forecasts for the United States, given these conditions, there is the possibility for storms to move into the Gulf this year.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

Keep up with all things Houston with us on Que Onda Magazine.

Scattered storms are possible over the next two days

ABC13 Houston
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Scattered storms are possible over the next two days

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — You’ll want to keep your umbrella nearby Wednesday afternoon as a few showers and a couple of thunderstorms could form along the sea breeze. A strong to severe storm will be possible with the primary threat being gusty winds, hail and locally heavy rain.

High temperatures will climb into the upper 80s to low 90s with heat index values between 98 to 103.

Can you time out the scattered thunderstorms on Thursday and Friday?

Thursday’s storms will hit mainly during the afternoon when the sea breeze comes in. Friday’s scattered storms will hit mostly during the afternoon and evening as a weak cool front moves through. The rain shouldn’t be as widespread or intense as what we’ve seen this week.

Will it be just as hot with these rainy days?

Not necessarily! With rain and the inherent cloud cover we typically get during these rainy and stormy days, afternoon high temperatures for this week and into the first few days of June will likely be closer to their seasonal average, in the mid-to-upper 80s. The catch, though, is that if a shower or storm rolls through. While that will cool you off in the short term, it’ll also make it feel extremely muggy at times. We are also expecting mold counts to go up with the week during this unsettled and rainy stretch.

Hurricane season begins Sunday. What can we expect this season?

Hurricane season begins on June 1, and this year we are anticipating another active one. Both hurricane outlooks from NOAA and Colorado State University predict an above-normal season. From NOAA specifically, the prediction is 13 to 19 named storms, six to 10 hurricanes, and possibly three to five major hurricanes. Two big reasons are the lack of an El Niño or La Niña and the trend of seeing warmer-than-normal ocean temperatures. And while these outlooks aren’t landfall forecasts for the United States, given these conditions, there is the possibility for storms to move into the Gulf this year.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

Keep up with all things Houston with us on Que Onda Magazine.

Texas Passes Bill Defining ‘Man’ and ‘Woman’

Indira Zaldivar
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Texas Passes Bill Defining ‘Man’ and ‘Woman’

Biological Definitions Now in State Law

House Bill 229, now headed to Gov. Greg Abbott, defines “man” and “woman” strictly by biological reproductive systems. The law will apply this binary definition across state records, though it does not include civil or criminal penalties.

If signed, Texas will become the 14th state to adopt such a law. Supporters argue it protects women’s rights and clarifies existing state code. Critics say it erases transgender and intersex people from legal recognition.

How the Law Defines Sex

Under HB 229, a “female” is someone with a system developed to produce ova; a “male,” someone with a system to fertilize them. An added amendment specifies intersex people are not a third sex but must be accommodated under existing laws.

The bill emphasizes “immutable biological differences,” citing physical strength and reproductive roles as reasons to maintain single-sex spaces such as bathrooms and shelters.

A Step Back for Trans Texans?

More than 120,000 Texans identify as transgender. Many have legal documentation that aligns with their gender identity. Legal experts warn the law could create daily difficulties — especially as Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton have already directed agencies to stop recognizing court-ordered gender changes on documents.

“This could force people to out themselves in everyday interactions,” said attorney Shelly Skeen of Lambda Legal.

Impact on Intersex and Non-Reproductive Individuals

Critics, including Rep. Jessica González, warn the law ignores the complexity of human biology. Questions remain about how the law applies to intersex individuals and women who cannot reproduce.

“We should not reduce human identity to reproductive capacity,” González said on the House floor.

Potential Legal and Federal Fallout

Other states with similar laws have faced legal challenges. Montana’s law was struck down, and Kansas faces lawsuits. Experts say HB 229 may provoke similar constitutional debates around privacy and equal protection.

The ACLU of Texas is watching closely. “We don’t yet know how far the state will go in enforcing this law,” said Sarah Corning. “But if it goes too far, they’ll hear from us.”

Uncertain Future

While supporters celebrate the bill as a win for women’s rights, many in the trans and intersex communities see it as an attack on their identity. As state agencies begin applying the law, its full impact remains to be seen.

Keep up with the Texas Legislature with us on Que Onda Magazine.

Texas ‘Trey’ Law Limits NDAs in Sexual Abuse Cases

Indira Zaldivar
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Texas ‘Trey’ Law Limits NDAs in Sexual Abuse Cases

A Tragic Story Sparks Change

Trey Carlock, a 28-year-old Dallas native, died by suicide after being sexually abused at Camp Kanakuk in Missouri. One of at least six victims of camp official Pete Newman—now serving multiple prison sentences—Trey’s pain was compounded by a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) he signed, which left him feeling silenced and betrayed.

“Blood Money” and a Sister’s Testimony

During a House hearing, Trey’s sister Elizabeth described how accepting the NDA settlement felt like a bribe.

“My brother referred to his as blood money,” she said, underscoring the emotional toll NDAs can take on abuse survivors.

Legislative Action: SB 835

In response, both chambers of the Texas Legislature unanimously passed SB 835, a bill named in Trey’s honor. The bill prohibits NDAs from preventing victims from sharing their experiences with anyone, not just legal authorities.

Expanding Protections for Victims

The new legislation extends to crimes against both children and adults, including human trafficking. If signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott, it would also apply retroactively—though existing NDAs could still be enforced if a court issues a declaratory judgment.

A Step Toward Justice

SB 835 marks a significant step in protecting survivors’ voices, ensuring they are never again forced into silence through legal agreements.

Keep up with the Texas Legislature with us on Que Onda Magazine.

Houston controller lists ‘hard truths’ about mayor’s budget proposal amid $300 million shortfall

ABC13 Houston
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Houston controller lists ‘hard truths’ about mayor’s budget proposal amid $300 million shortfall

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The City of Houston controller is laying out his criticism of the mayor’s budget proposal as the two top elected officials continue to be at odds over the issue.

Mayor John Whitmire’s administration writes the budget, the council has to pass it, and Controller Chris Hollins has to certify it.

Eyewitness News previously reported that Hollins has said he would not certify it until a judge rules on the city’s financial plan tied to a drainage lawsuit the city lost.

RELATED: Houston’s top finance official says he may not certify city’s next budget as deficit grows

That’s one of the issues he laid out on Tuesday, when he released a list of what he calls “hard truths” about Whitmire’s proposed budget.

Whitmire says his proposed budget is balanced and won’t raise your taxes, but Hollins disagrees.

Whitmire has said his $7 billion budget proposal is balanced through a reduction in wasteful spending.

He says he’s restructuring where the money will go. For example, less money for the health and neighborhood departments.

RELATED: Houston Mayor John Whitmire expects city to spend $7 billion in budget proposal

In his list, Hollins says the proposal would ultimately require property taxes to be raised in the fall in addition to reducing services and repeating mistakes that led to budget shortfalls in the past.

The mayor’s office said in a statement in response to Hollins’ list that the budget is balanced and reduces waste and fraud.

Whitmire’s office sent the following statement:

“Mayor Whitmire has presented a balanced budget for FY2026 that funds city services, includes more money for infrastructure, and boosts public safety without a tax increase. The mayor is committed to ensuring that Houstonians that he has eliminated waste, fraud, duplication, and corruption before discussing additional revenue sources in the future.”

The back-and-forth is all happening as the city is facing a budget shortfall of more than $300 million.

“We’ve got a massive deficit. We have to figure out a way to keep the city running 23 years from now. We need to make those decisions today. We can’t keep kicking the can down the road. That’s what tonight was about,” Hollins said.

The budget proposal still has to be passed by the city council.

Houston woman frustrated with CenterPoint amid power ongoing outages: ‘I’m done’

ABC13 Houston
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Houston woman frustrated with CenterPoint amid power ongoing outages: ‘I’m done’

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Sandra Jucha is just one of thousands of Houstonians that lost power this week.

“I’m done,” Jucha said. “I’ve decided I’m not going to go through this anymore.”

Jucha said it took over 15 hours for her power to be restored.

“It’s just frustrating because yesterday they kept pushing back the restoration time, and it was a slap in the face that they released the press release that they’re hurricane ready, but we can’t even get through a storm,” Jucha said.

Jucha says for Hurricane Beryl she didn’t have power for eight days. She is now hoping CenterPoint Energy achieved their great Houston resiliency initiative so many Houstonians called for.

“When it happened, I was like, but you know what, CenterPoint said that they’ve done everything we need to do, that we’re ready, so I assumed that we would be back up and running right away and we weren’t,” Jucha said.

ABC13 took Jucha’s concerns to CenterPoint.

“I’d say that we’ve done a lot of work to be prepared for whatever storm that comes our way so whether it’s the storms like we saw Monday night, which we’re going to continue to have severe storms. So really, as I mentioned, we’ve done a lot of work to prepare for hurricane season,” Alyssa Oshodi with CenterPoint Energy said.

CenterPoint says while they had 167,000 customers in the dark. They’ve done work on their system to get the lights on in 24 hours.

“Immediately following Beryl, we had about six weeks that was phase one of that work. Just last week, we announced that we completed phase two, and some pieces of that phase two included replacing more than 25,000 poles with newer storm-resilient poles undergrounding more than 400 miles of power lines, installing automation devices on our system and completing several 1,000 miles of vegetation management,” Oshodi said.

But Jucha says for her, it’s not enough.

“I’m not looking forward to hurricane season. It’s just supposed to get worse and worse. And if this is any indication of what’s to come, I’m not sticking around for it,” Jucha said.

CenterPoint says already from this year compared to last year, they already have 20 million fewer minutes in outages.

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