In a recent sweep for border security-related offenses, the Southern District of Texas has reported a significant tally of cases. Over a one-week period spanning from last Friday until yesterday, U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced a total of 246 cases, as noted by a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Ninety-one individuals are facing charges for illegal re-entry into the U.S., with many having prior felony convictions related to narcotics, violence, sexual offenses, and immigration violations. In addition, 145 individuals have been charged with illegal entry, with eight cases involving human smuggling and the rest connected to false statements and other immigration issues. One individual, Rogelio Jaimes-Rodriguez, was allegedly found near Roma after being previously deported, with authorities citing a prior conviction for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.
Another case involved Onesimo Salazar-Torres, a Mexican national with a previous conviction for indecency with a child involving sexual contact, who was charged with illegal re-entry after being found in the U.S. near Edinburg. In addition to re-entry offenses, the district also handled cases like that of Carlos Bedolla Sanchez, who pleaded guilty to identity theft in Houston for fraudulently attempting to obtain a U.S. passport and other identification by assuming the identity of a U.S. citizen.
In Corpus Christi, Alberto Chavez Jr. faced a speedy conviction by a federal jury for the transportation of illegal aliens, testifying that although he claimed his passengers were his cousins, it was revealed that they were actually Honduran nationals present unlawfully in the country. Meanwhile, in Laredo, Giovana Lozano Hernandez was indicted on charges connected to a multi-year human smuggling conspiracy, evidence against her includes digital images and voice recordings related to the operation. These cases are part of the wider "Operation Take Back America", an initiative described to focus on the "invasion of illegal immigration," the dismantling of cartels, and boosting community safety against violent crimes according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Immigration enforcement and criminal activity remain a top priority in the Southern District of Texas. Spanning 43 counties and a population of over nine million, the SDTX is among the busiest in the nation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys from seven divisions work in close partnership with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to apprehend and prosecute individuals suspected of federal crimes.
