Videos Show ICE Agents Enter San Antonio Home Without Clear Warrant

Viral videos show armed immigration agents entering a San Antonio home without clearly presenting a judicial warrant, raising Fourth Amendment concerns. Armed immigration agents wearing vests labeled "POLICE" are seen inside a San Antonio home in a screenshot from a video shared by homeowner Maggie Guillen. Videos circulating online show armed immigration agents entering a San Antonio home without clearly presenting a judicial warrant, prompting allegations of a warrantless entry and renewed scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement practices.

The incident was recorded by residents inside the home, including Maggie Guillen who identified herself as the homeowner when posting videos to social media on Thursday and Friday. Those videos show multiple agents wearing tactical gear labeled "POLICE" entering the house with weapons drawn while women and children were inside. Guillen said the agents did not identify who they were looking for, did not show a judicial warrant and later acknowledged they had the wrong person.

No arrests were made, Guillen said, and she described the encounter as frightening. She said everyone inside the home has legal status.

The Department of Homeland Security disputed that account, saying officers were attempting to execute an arrest warrant for Gonzalo Mejia Ortega, a 34-year-old man they allege fled from officers during a vehicle stop and ran into the home. DHS said agents followed him inside but that he escaped through a window.

The agency also claimed that an officer was assaulted by someone inside the house as agents were leaving, but "agitators" stopped them from conducting an arrest. DHS said the matter has been referred to federal prosecutors for review.

The videos do not show agents clearly presenting a warrant before entering the residence, a point central to the dispute.

Under the Fourth Amendment, law enforcement generally must obtain a judicial warrant to enter a private home unless an emergency situation exists. Immigration agents often carry administrative warrants, which are not signed by a judge and do not, on their own, authorize entry into a residence without consent.

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, whose district includes San Antonio, called the incident a "home invasion" and said he is seeking answers from federal officials. Castro said the episode raises serious constitutional concerns and reflects a broader pattern of aggressive immigration enforcement tactics that may be stretching or violating legal limits.

The San Antonio incident has added to growing concern from civil rights advocates and lawmakers about whether immigration agents are increasingly entering homes without proper judicial authorization, particularly amid stepped-up enforcement activity across Texas.