A corrupt officer from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was apprehended alongside three other individuals in a bribery case related to immigration. He allegedly received payment to lift immigration detainers on certain illegal aliens in ICE custody, and he now faces a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison.
For context, Jose Angel Muniz, a 51-year-old resident of Texas, was one of four men arrested on July 2, 2025, in connection with a bribery scheme. Muniz exploited his role as an ICE officer in the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division to eliminate immigration detainers on specific individuals, allowing their release instead of deportation.
As stated in a DOJ press release issued on July 2, 2025, Muniz was arrested along with Leopoldo Perrault Benitez, Anthony Benitez, and Isaac Sierra, all of whom were bail bondsmen. They conspired to pay Muniz to remove immigration detainers, benefiting A Way Out Bail Bonds, a company owned by Leopoldo Benitez, who also employed his son, Andrew Benitez. Isaac Sierra was reportedly an employee at International Bonding Company.
In the DOJ press release, U.S. Attorney General for the Southern District of Texas, Nicholas Ganjei, denounced the actions of the four men, stating, “The Southern District of Texas takes allegations of corruption by federal officers extremely seriously, particularly those entrusted with keeping our border secure and our nation safe.” He further emphasized, “There is no room whatsoever for bribery or side deals when it comes to immigration enforcement.”
Additionally, the DOJ’s press release confirmed that if convicted, the men could face up to 15 years in prison, along with a fine “equal to the equivalent value of the bribes offered and received or $250,000, whichever is greater.” Furthermore, the case was investigated by the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility and the FBI, as noted in the press release.
Nevertheless, the DOJ press release made it clear that, at this stage, Muniz and his co-conspirators have merely been indicted, not convicted. It stated, “An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.” Furthermore, the press release indicated that Muniz and the other three individuals “were ordered into custody pending further criminal proceedings.”
The announcement of Muniz’s indictment arrives during a period when threats and slander against ICE officers have surged to unprecedented levels. A press release from the Department of Homeland Security, dated June 16, 2025, reported that ICE officers are currently subjected to “disgusting smears” aimed at “demonizing and villainizing our brave ICE law enforcement,” resulting in a more than 400 percent increase in assaults on our officers.
Additionally, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughin remarked that ICE agents are frequently misrepresented by progressive groups and left-leaning media outlets, stating, “Politicians and activists must turn the temperature down and tone down their rhetoric.” She further asserted, “These are the types of lies being propagated to demonize our courageous ICE law enforcement who risk their lives to remove criminal illegal aliens, including suspected terrorists, gang members, murderers, and rapists from American communities. The reality is that ICE, along with our federal partners, is focused on apprehending the most dangerous individuals.”
