The Texas community and Zimbabwean diaspora are in shock after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed the arrest of Lloyd Tinashe Hwehwe, a Zimbabwean national convicted of intoxicated manslaughter in Dallas County.
ICE’s Houston field office moved in on August 19, placing Hwehwe in custody as part of a nationwide crackdown targeting criminal noncitizens.
Authorities revealed that Hwehwe had been sentenced to 10 years in prison following a tragic drunk-driving incident that claimed a life. In Texas, intoxicated manslaughter is a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Officials say the arrest falls under Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), a federal program focused on removing noncitizens with serious criminal records.
“Our mission is to protect the public,” said an ICE spokesperson. “Anyone who threatens community safety through serious crimes will be held accountable and removed.”
With his arrest, Hwehwe remains in ICE custody as he awaits removal proceedings, a process that could result in his deportation back to Zimbabwe after his legal obligations in the U.S. are complete.
The arrest has sparked strong reactions, particularly within Zimbabwean online communities. Some praised ICE for “doing its job,” while others expressed sympathy for the man and his family.
One social media comment read:
“It’s a tragedy all around — a life lost, a family broken, and now a man losing his chance at a future in America.”
The case of Lloyd Tinashe Hwehwe is a powerful reminder that one reckless decision can lead to devastating consequences, from lives lost to families torn apart — and now, deportation.
