U.S. attorneys in six southwestern border districts charged nearly 1,000 illegal aliens with immigration-related crimes in the first week of April under Operation Take Back America, according to the Department of Justice. The districts involved in the charges included Arizona, Central California, Southern California, New Mexico, Southern Texas, and Western Texas. In the District of Arizona, charges were brought against 204 illegal aliens, with offenses ranging from illegal reentry to smuggling humans into the country. One individual, Ivan Mauricio Hernandez-Mosqueda, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for smuggling over 100 illegal aliens into the U.S. and coaching them to falsely claim asylum upon entry.
In the Southern District of California, 97 cases were filed, with charges including transporting illegal aliens, bribery by a public official, and bringing in controlled substances. One individual, Francisco Anguiano Rios, attempted to bring over 500 pounds of cocaine across the border. In the Central District of California, 24 defendants were charged for reentering the U.S. following removal, including individuals with prior felony convictions. The District of New Mexico brought charges against 99 individuals, many of whom had prior convictions for serious crimes such as solicitation of a child, leaving the scene of a fatal accident, and possession with intent to distribute meth.
In the Southern District of Texas, 225 immigration-related and border security cases were filed against individuals accused of illegally reentering the country or entering illegally. Many of these individuals had felony convictions for narcotics offenses, previous immigration violations, and violent or sexual crimes. In Texas’s western district, 259 criminal cases related to immigration were filed, including charges against Mexican national Miguel Angel Torres-Segura for his involvement in a human smuggling organization that brought over 900 illegal immigrants into the country. Torres-Segura had multiple prior convictions for illegal entry and reentry.
Operation Take Back America, which was initiated during President Trump’s administration, aims to address the illegal immigration crisis, dismantle cartels and criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent criminals. The DOJ expressed gratitude for the efforts of border prosecutors in pursuing these cases and enhancing border security. The operation is part of ongoing efforts to secure the border, enforce immigration laws, and ensure the safety of communities in border districts. By prosecuting individuals involved in illegal immigration and criminal activities, authorities are working to maintain law and order along the southwestern border.
