During a two-week enforcement operation from January 21 to February 3, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona charged over 500 individuals with immigration-related crimes. A total of 565 defendants faced charges in cases referred or supported by various federal law enforcement agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Federal law enforcement has been focusing on prosecuting individuals unlawfully present in the United States who have connections to criminal activities such as drug and firearms offenses. They are also targeting those with serious criminal records or outstanding warrants.

One notable case involved Edwin Santiago Marquez Flores, who was under surveillance by HSI agents for suspected human smuggling via social media. During a traffic stop on January 27, he was found illegally possessing two Century Arms AK47-style rifles and over $1,400 in cash. He admitted to being in the country without legal status and confessed to smuggling activities involving firearms and cocaine within the United States. "Marquez further admitted that he had sold approximately 50 firearms," according to officials.

Another case involved Jason Kyle Dunn, a U.S. citizen charged on January 31 with alien smuggling after being stopped at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 19. Authorities discovered aliens concealed inside toolboxes in his truck's bed. The aliens reported they were locked inside for up to two hours before being rescued.

On February 2, Alfonso Garcia Vega was arrested by ICE ERO Phoenix for illegal reentry after deportation following a prior felony conviction. Garcia Vega attempted to evade arrest but was apprehended after an arrest warrant was obtained.

The office emphasized that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and does not imply guilt; individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.