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Nearly 1,000 Charged with Immigration Crimes in Southwest U.S. Under New Initiative
During the initial week of April, U.S. attorneys across six southwestern border districts have charged close to 1,000 individuals with immigration-related offenses as part of a campaign known as Operation Take Back America, according to an announcement from the Department of Justice.
The affected districts include Arizona, Central California, Southern California, New Mexico, Southern Texas, and Western Texas.
In Arizona, charges were filed against 204 individuals, with 83 facing allegations of illegal reentry and 107 for illegal entry into the United States. Additionally, 14 individuals, including Ivan Mauricio Hernandez-Mosqueda, were charged with human smuggling activities within the district.
Hernandez-Mosqueda, a national from Mexico, received a sentence of 46 months in prison for facilitating the entry of over 100 illegal migrants, some of whom he reportedly instructed to falsely claim asylum upon arriving in the U.S.
OPERATION ENFORCEMENT AND PRIOR DISPUTES
According to the DOJ, U.S. attorneys in the six border districts collectively filed nearly 1,000 immigration-related charges during this enforcement period. The Southern District of California alone recorded 97 cases involving various offenses, such as the transportation of illegal aliens for profit, bribery of public officials, illegal reentry, and the importation of controlled substances.
A highlight among those charged was Francisco Anguiano Rios, a Mexican national accused of attempting to smuggle 547 pounds of cocaine through the Otay Mesa Port of Entry.
In the Central District of California, 24 individuals were charged with reentering the country after previously being removed, many of whom had prior felony convictions.
The District of New Mexico reported charges against 99 individuals, with numerous cases involving illegal reentry after deportation and alien smuggling. The DOJ noted that several of these defendants had serious prior convictions, including solicitation of minors, leaving the scene of a fatal accident, and drug-related offenses.
Furthermore, in the Southern District of Texas, attorneys filed 225 immigration-related cases involving 70 individuals charged with illegal reentry and 144 charged with illegal entry. The majority of these individuals, many of whom had felony records for narcotics and violent crimes, represented a significant concern for border security.
In Texas’ western district, an additional 259 immigration-related criminal cases were filed, further emphasizing the ongoing enforcement efforts, although no specific details were disclosed about those cases.
Among those charged was Miguel Angel Torres-Segura, a Mexican national living in San Antonio, accused of being part of a human smuggling organization that trafficked over 900 individuals between May 2021 and June 2022. Torres-Segura had a prior history of illegal entry into the U.S.
BACKGROUND ON OPERATION TAKE BACK AMERICA
Initiated during President Donald Trump’s administration, Operation Take Back America has sought to confront the illegal immigration crisis head-on by dismantling organized crime networks and safeguarding communities from criminal elements. The DOJ expressed appreciation for the efforts of the border prosecutors, highlighting their role in restoring safety at the borders.
The operation reflects the government’s ongoing commitment to addressing immigration enforcement and border security amidst the complexities of migration challenges facing the nation.
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