Texas DPS Captures Fugitive from 10 Most Wanted Illegal Immigrants List

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has captured another fugitive from Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Criminal Illegal Immigrants List in Houston – just days after he was added to the list. His arrest was not from tip information received through Texas Crime Stoppers, so no reward will be paid.

Jose Miguel Zelaya-Ponce, 20, a criminal illegal immigrant from Honduras, had been wanted out of Harris County since July 2024 for aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14.

Zelaya-Ponce was taken into custody on Friday, August 23rd by Special Agents from DPS’ Criminal Investigations Division (CID) assigned to the Texas Anti-Gang (TAG) Center in Houston, along with Texas Rangers and Texas Highway Patrol (THP) Troopers. Zelaya-Ponce’s arrest was a result of investigative efforts and a series of leads by Special Agents and Texas Rangers assigned to his case.

In April 2021, Zelaya-Ponce was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and charged with alien removal. He was subsequently given an order of recognizance and released. In June 2024, Zelaya-Ponce was issued a final order of removal.