A McGregor, Texas, couple discovered a naked illegal immigrant hiding in their children’s closet in the early morning hours of September 15, leading to the arrest of David Refugio Lopez, 28, a Mexican national who entered the United States illegally. Lopez now faces a series of serious criminal charges, and federal immigration authorities have moved to deport him.
The children’s mother first alerted her husband after noticing someone in their daughter’s room. The father found Lopez, unclothed, hiding in a closet near his son and daughter, who were also not wearing clothes. When police arrived, they found the father physically blocking Lopez inside the closet. Lopez had been allowed to dress before officers got there.
Charges Filed Against Lopez After McGregor Incident
Lopez was swiftly taken into custody. He initially withheld his identity from officers, according to the Department of Homeland Security, resulting in an additional charge. Jail records show he is charged with two counts of indecency with a child, exposure, burglary of a habitation, and failure to identify. He is being held at McLennan County Jail on a $60,000 bond.
According to an arrest affidavit cited by Fox 44, police were told the daughter had let Lopez into the home without her parents’ knowledge. She repeatedly stated that no sexual contact had occurred. Lopez came to the United States illegally in 2002 as a child, DHS told The Daily Wire. Reporting on the McGregor Texas arrest noted that the case drew immediate attention from federal immigration officials.
ICE Detainer and DHS Response
Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged a detainer with McLennan County Jail on the day of Lopez’s arrest, requesting that local authorities transfer him to federal custody for deportation upon his release. Homeland Security issued a pointed statement calling on the state to cooperate.
“We are calling on Texas to honor our detainer. All of his claims will be heard by an immigration judge, and he will receive due process. This administration will not ignore the rule of law,” a Homeland Security spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added a broader warning about enforcement priorities: “Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, ICE is targeting the worst of the worst. Our message is clear: if you come into our country illegally and break our laws, we will find you, we will arrest you, and we will deport you.”
Lopez’s criminal case will proceed through McLennan County courts while the ICE detainer keeps the question of his immigration status and potential deportation in play. Whether local authorities honor the federal detainer request will determine whether he is transferred to federal custody after any local legal proceedings conclude.
