Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California have initiated 97 border-related cases in the past week. These cases encompass charges such as transportation and financial gaining from illegal aliens, receiving bribes by public officials, reentering the U.S. after deportation, and the importation of controlled substances.
The Southern District of California, which includes San Diego and Imperial counties, ranks as the fourth-busiest federal district due to extensive border-related crime, sharing a 140-mile boundary with Mexico. Within its jurisdiction is the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the world’s busiest land border crossing.
Beyond reactive border crimes, this district prosecutes a variety of other offenses, including terrorism, organized crime, drug violations, white-collar fraud, violent and cyber crimes, human trafficking, and national security issues.
The following are notable arrests from the past week:
Customs and Border Protection Officers Farlis Almonte and Ricardo Rodriguez were charged on March 24 with "Conspiracy to Bring in Aliens for Financial Gain, Bringing in Aliens for Financial Gain and Receipt of Bribes by Public Official." The complaint states they allowed vehicles carrying undocumented immigrants to pass through the San Ysidro Port of Entry in exchange for cash between August 2024 and January 2025.
On March 29, charges of "Importation of a Controlled Substance" were brought against Osvaldo Parra Franco, a Mexican national. He was detained attempting to enter the U.S. with methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl hidden in his vehicle.
Jesus Eduardo Carrasco-Romero, also a Mexican national, was arrested east of the Otay Mesa Port of Entry on March 30 for re-entering the U.S. illegally after a deportation from El Paso, Texas, earlier that month.
Francisco Anguiano Rios faced similar charges on March 31 after attempting to smuggle 547 pounds of cocaine hidden in his truck's fuel tank into the U.S. through Otay Mesa.
Mexican nationals Miguel Angel Gonzalez Lujan and Jesus Miguel Gonzalez Garcia were stopped by a spike strip on March 31. They were charged with "Transportation of Illegal Aliens" near Campo with four undocumented immigrants in their vehicle.
The focus of immigration enforcement has been on those involved in criminal activities in the U.S., particularly drug and firearms crimes or individuals with significant criminal records. Investigative efforts have prioritized smugglers and individuals who threaten community and law enforcement safety.
The prosecutions were facilitated by multiple federal agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations, Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with state and local law enforcement support.
Indictments and criminal complaints are only allegations, and defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in court.
