The Southern District of Texas has announced 271 new cases involving immigration and border security-related crimes filed between May 15 and May 21, as part of the ongoing nationwide initiative, Operation Take Back America. Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck said these actions underscore the district's commitment to public safety and border security.
Among the charges, 249 individuals are accused of unlawfully being in the United States, with 67 for illegal entry and 182 for illegal reentry. Many of these individuals have prior convictions for narcotics, immigration offenses, or violent crimes. Additionally, 19 people face charges related to human smuggling, including an out-of-state truck driver, Juan Nasario-Reyes, who was arrested after allegedly attempting to smuggle 42 illegal aliens in a hot, locked trailer where temperatures reached 92.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Further cases highlight repeat offenders, such as Santos Rivera-Garcia, who was discovered near Mission less than a month after being removed from the country following a 63-month federal prison sentence for felony illegal reentry. Federal juries also delivered guilty verdicts against Eduardo Aguilera-Gallardo and Jose Leandro Juarez-Rivas for unlawful reentry. In another case, Jose Angel Martinez Menjivar, an illegal alien sex offender from El Salvador, received a 40-month federal prison sentence for unlawfully reentering the U.S.
These enforcement efforts are supported by various federal law enforcement partners, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Border Patrol, and the FBI, with assistance from state and local agencies. Operation Take Back America aims to combat illegal immigration, dismantle cartels, and protect communities from violent crime, reflecting the district's top priorities under current leadership.