While political debate rages on in Washington over immigration policy, things on the ground at the U.S.-Mexico border are moving fast — and law enforcement is busier than ever.
As part of a sweeping national initiative known as Operation Take Back America, the Department of Justice has been doubling down on efforts to tackle illegal immigration, fight cartels and transnational crime, and keep border communities safe.
This operation pulls together resources from two major DOJ programs — the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods — aiming to streamline the response to everything from drug trafficking to violent crime and illegal entry.
Over 1,150 Defendants Charged Across Five Key Border States
Just last week, federal prosecutors in five southern states — Arizona, Southern California, New Mexico, Southern Texas, and Western Texas — filed charges against more than 1,150 people for immigration-related offenses.
From human smuggling to illegal reentry and drug trafficking, the list of charges paints a picture of intense activity across the southern border.
Southern Texas: Human Smuggling and Repeat Offenders in the Spotlight
In Southern Texas, prosecutors opened 202 new immigration and border security cases.
Of those, 129 involved people accused of entering the country illegally, and 63 others were charged with felony reentry — meaning they had previously been deported.
Many of the accused also have past felony records, including convictions for violent crimes, drug offenses, and prior immigration violations.
One of the more notable arrests this week was Luis Humberto Gonzalez-Sanchez, who allegedly harbored 16 undocumented immigrants in his home in Mercedes, Texas.
According to prosecutors, Gonzalez-Sanchez had allegedly sheltered over 100 individuals in the past six months, charging $150 per person.
He now faces up to 10 years behind bars if convicted.
Western Texas: Hundreds of New Cases Including Dangerous Criminal Histories
In Western Texas, prosecutors were even busier, filing 410 new cases related to immigration.
Among them was Albert Sanchez-Jaimes, a Mexican national with a long criminal and immigration history.
He was caught at the Burnet County Jail while in custody for boating while intoxicated and marijuana possession.
His rap sheet includes four prior deportations, assault convictions, and two earlier illegal reentry convictions.
Another high-profile arrest came in Waco, where Daniel Edgar Perez-Cortez was taken into custody by ICE’s Fugitive Operations Team.
Already convicted of illegal reentry in 2024, Perez-Cortez also has past convictions for weapons possession, deadly conduct involving a firearm, and drunk driving.
He’s now facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted again.
Arizona: Focus on Smugglers and Repeat Border Crossers
In Arizona, 199 people were charged with immigration-related crimes.
Of those, 74 were repeat entrants, while 104 were new illegal entry cases.
Prosecutors also filed charges against 20 individuals suspected of smuggling migrants through or within the state.
One case involved a suspect accused of assaulting a Border Patrol agent — a stark reminder that officers face serious risks on the front lines of border enforcement.
Southern California: Fake IDs, Drug Smuggling, and Child Trafficking Accusations
Southern California prosecutors filed 131 new border-related cases last week.
Among the arrests were Brenda Esmeralda Sanchez and her daughter Marlen Yamille Salmoran, both U.S. citizens.
They’re accused of trying to pass off a Mexican child as Sanchez’s own son at the San Ysidro Port of Entry using a real U.S. birth certificate. Sanchez has a history of smuggling-related arrests.
Meanwhile, at the Otay Mesa border crossing, Ricardo Cuevas Diaz and Luis Armando Bojorquez Cazarez, both Mexican nationals, were arrested after authorities discovered 133 pounds of meth stashed in their car — hidden in places like the air filter, roof, and rear bed.
New Mexico: Military Zone Breaches and Repeat Offenders Raise Alarms
In New Mexico, 211 immigration-related charges were filed, and the cases were wide-ranging.
Prosecutors charged 67 people with illegal reentry, five with smuggling, and nearly 140 others with various immigration offenses.
Several individuals were also charged for entering a newly designated National Defense Area — a restricted zone tied to military operations.
That includes violations of military security regulations and unauthorized entry onto military property.
Federal Prosecutors Work to Tighten Border Security
The Justice Department has emphasized that these prosecutions are part of a broader mission to restore control at the border and protect American communities.
With coordinated efforts across multiple districts, federal prosecutors are aiming to deter future illegal crossings while holding repeat offenders accountable.
Officials say they’re proud of the work done so far and remain committed to continuing the fight — one case at a time.