Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California have filed over 100 border-related cases this week. These cases involve charges such as transportation of illegal aliens, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and importation of controlled substances.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California is one of the busiest federal districts due to its proximity to the Mexican border, covering San Diego and Imperial counties with a 140-mile boundary line. This district includes the San Ysidro Port of Entry, known as the world's busiest land border crossing between San Diego and Tijuana.
Beyond reactive border-related crimes, this district handles proactive cases concerning terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking, and national security.
Among this week's arrests are Mexican nationals Isay Edel Ramos-Chaparro and Omar Alvarado-Ignacio. They were detained on March 4 by El Centro-based U.S. Border Patrol agents for allegedly attempting to cross into the United States illegally through a breach in the Mexicali border fence on motorcycles. Both had been previously deported.
On March 6, Jason Kristopher Lowe was arrested at the San Ysidro Port of Entry while driving a BMW X5 with two Chinese nationals hidden in a secret compartment who lacked legal entry documents.
Additionally, Fernando Medina Rodriguez, Gustavo Camacha Medina, and Carlos Cardenas Medina were arrested on March 4 at Otay Mesa Port of Entry for drug importation charges. Authorities discovered approximately 171 pounds of cocaine hidden in their tractor-trailers during inspections.
Federal law enforcement prioritizes prosecuting undocumented individuals engaged in criminal activities like drug or firearms offenses or those with significant criminal histories or active warrants. Authorities are also targeting drug and human smugglers who pose threats to community safety and law enforcement personnel.
These immigration cases have been referred or supported by various federal agencies including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol among others.
It is important to note that indictments and criminal complaints are allegations only; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
