The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Thursday the creation of a new Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) in Houston, aimed at cracking down on international gangs, drug cartels, and foreign terrorist organizations operating in Southeast Texas.
The task force, made up of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, will bring together personnel from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, the DEA, and others to fight the growing threat of transnational criminal groups in a more coordinated and aggressive way.
“As these organizations become more advanced and dangerous, our response has to evolve too,” said Chad Plantz, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Houston. “This task force will allow us to act faster and smarter by combining our resources.”
A Response to Executive Orders
The move follows one of President Donald Trump’s executive orders issued earlier this year titled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion.” The order calls for the creation of Homeland Security Task Forces in all 50 states to improve immigration enforcement and combat foreign threats on U.S. soil.
Houston, long considered a major hub for cartel and gang activity, was a natural choice for one of the first task forces. A similar task force has already been launched in Kansas City.
“This isn’t just about Houston,” said FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams. “This is about setting a national example for what coordinated law enforcement can look like.”
Working Together, Not Alone
Local officials seem to welcome the new approach. Doug Griffith, president of the Houston Police Officers’ Union, called the task force a stronger and more united effort to target international gangs like Tren de Aragua (TDA) and MS-13—both of which have been linked to violent crimes in the area.
“We’ve had success in the past working with DEA and ATF,” Griffith said. “But this looks like an even better attempt to bring all the key players to the table.”
The task force is expected to address a wide range of criminal threats, including drug trafficking, human smuggling, gun violence, and even terrorism. It will have a main office in Houston, with a satellite location in Corpus Christi.
Not Without Controversy
Critics argue that the new task forces give too much control to DHS and not enough to independent prosecutors. A former Justice Department attorney told ProPublica that the model may eliminate “neutral, fact-based” decision-making in criminal cases.
Despite those concerns, public support for tougher immigration enforcement remains strong. A recent poll by Texas Southern University found that 95% of Harris County residents support deporting illegal immigrants who commit violent crimes. A majority also support denying bail to those charged with such offenses.
What’s Next
The Houston task force will include a broad group of agencies such as the U.S. Marshals Service, IRS Criminal Investigations, Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, HIDTA, and local district attorneys. Intelligence analysts and professional staff will also be part of the team.
“This is about protecting American communities from global threats,” said Williams. “We’re not just reacting anymore—we’re going on offense.”
