Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California have filed over 90 border-related cases this week. The charges include transportation of illegal aliens, bringing in aliens for financial gain, reentering the U.S. after deportation, deported alien found in the United States, and importation of controlled substances.
The Southern District of California is a significant hub for federal cases due to its proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border. This district includes San Diego and Imperial counties and shares a 140-mile border with Mexico. It is home to the San Ysidro Port of Entry, which is noted as the world's busiest land border crossing.
In addition to these reactive cases, the district also handles numerous proactive prosecutions involving terrorism, organized crime, drugs, white-collar fraud, violent crime, cybercrime, human trafficking, and national security.
Among those arrested this week were Eleazar Mozqueda Simental and Manuel Antonio Mozqueda Simental. They were charged with maritime smuggling after allegedly transporting 14 undocumented immigrants from Mexico, Vietnam, and China across rough seas in a panga boat. Osvaldo Reyes-Virgen was apprehended near Imperial Beach after previously being deported on March 6th. Sarah Beth Schatz was arrested while attempting to smuggle two Chinese citizens into the U.S. via her vehicle's trunk. Joshua Nicolas Sanchez Lopez was caught at Otay Mesa Port of Entry with drugs hidden in his car. Baudelio Escalante-Orozco was found hiding near the U.S./Mexico boundary line after being previously deported.
Federal law enforcement efforts target undocumented aliens involved in criminal activities within the U.S., including drug and firearms offenses or those with serious criminal records or active warrants. Authorities prioritize investigations against smugglers who threaten community safety.
The immigration cases were referred or supported by federal partners such as Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Border Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), along with state and local law enforcement agencies.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
