The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas recently filed 222 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases within a single week. The charges, announced by United States Attorney Justin R. Simmons, were filed between last Thursday and this past Thursday. This increase in cases highlights continued efforts to address offenses connected to immigration violations.
An element of the operation has brought attention to certain employment practices under scrutiny. Karen Y. Ordonez-Granados and Ledy Veronica Ordonez-Granados, also known as Veronica Granados, were arrested on charges related to the fraud or misuse of immigration documents. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, both individuals allegedly admitted to purchasing fraudulent legal permanent resident cards for $150, which they then used to obtain employment at Groomer’s Seafood in San Antonio.
Another individual, Jose David Sifuentes, has attracted legal attention after serving time for a grave charge. Sifuentes, a Honduran national, who was already in hot water for sexually assaulting a child, was identified by ICE at the Caldwell County Jail and has now been charged with illegal re-entry. Having been removed previously to Honduras in 2019, he was federally charged again on Monday.
Several additional individuals were also apprehended as part of ongoing federal enforcement efforts. Diego Garcia-Godinez and Jose Luis Cabrera-Lopez, both nationals of Guatemala, were arrested in El Paso on charges of attempting to illegally re-enter the United States following recent removals. In a separate case, Mexican national Samuel Meza-Escobedo was taken into custody after allegedly attempting to re-enter the country following nine prior removals.
Confronted with a fraudulent identity scheme, Customs and Border Protection in El Paso arrested Daniel Sauceda-Borrego. He allegedly attempted to pass off identification documents bearing an assumed name and was discovered to have a previous removal from the U.S. back in 2011.
Lastly, Tomas Velazquez-Jijon's capture at a routine Greyhound bus inspection led to his arrest after agents found him in possession of a fake LPR card. Despite being removed as recently as May 22, he attempted to re-enter the country again and is now facing formal charges.
These cases reflect coordinated efforts by multiple federal agencies, including ICE, HSI, U.S. Border Patrol, and other law enforcement entities. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, which has jurisdiction over several major Texas cities and a substantial portion of the U.S.–Mexico border, continues to process and prosecute immigration-related offenses in accordance with federal law.
