Federal prosecutors in the Western District of Texas have filed 319 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases between May 15 and May 21, U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons announced. The charges target human smugglers and illegal aliens with prior convictions for offenses including DUIs, violent crimes, burglary, and multiple previous removals.
In El Paso, 110 of the new cases were filed, including charges against Martha Lopez of Socorro for alien smuggling. Lopez, a convicted felon with past convictions for voluntary manslaughter and child cruelty, allegedly attempted to pick up four illegal aliens and fled from law enforcement. Two illegal aliens were later found at her residence, identified as a possible stash house. Yvette Yarelli Vasquez also faces human smuggling charges, with allegations linking her to previously convicted smuggler Yovani Garcia-Cruz and "proof of life" videos depicting harbored children. Additionally, Osiel Alfonso Marroquin-Morales, an illegal alien with multiple removals and convictions for DUI and causing death while intoxicated, was apprehended near Fort Hancock. Juan Santiago-Alavez, with six DUI convictions and charges including domestic battery, was found near Tornillo.
Del Rio saw 173 new immigration cases this week. Juan Manuel Escareno-Anguiano, a Mexican national deported seven times, was charged with illegal re-entry, possessing a criminal history that includes three burglary convictions. Luis Baena-Olivares, a convicted felon with five felonies including robbery and kidnapping, was arrested near Del Rio for illegal re-entry after his sixth deportation. Juan Pablo Bermudez-Cueto, previously convicted of kidnapping in Kansas, also faces illegal re-entry charges.
Further cases include Fidel Rodriguez-Herrera, an illegal alien with an extensive criminal record including DUI and assault, stopped in San Antonio. In Austin, Marlon Ramirez-Castro, previously removed for bulk cash smuggling and convicted of DWI and terroristic threat, was transferred into ICE custody from Travis County Jail. Pedro Valadez-Galindo, removed in 2009 for controlled substance possession, was also found in the Travis County Jail following an arrest for assaulting a pregnant person.
These enforcement actions are part of "Operation Take Back America," a nationwide Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, eliminating cartels, and protecting communities from violent crime. The cases received support from various federal, state, and local law enforcement partners.